Bonner is encouraging Bonner residents to register to be an organ and tissue donor and tell their family and friends during DonateLife Week 2019.

DonateLife Week, Australia’s national awareness week dedicated to promoting organ and tissue donation, will be held from Sunday 28 July to Sunday 4 August 2019. During DonateLife Week, all Australians are encouraged to register to be an organ and tissue donor at donatelife.gov.au to have the opportunity to one day change lives.

“An organ transplant doesn’t just save lives, it gives families back their mother, father, sibling, or child,” said Ross Vasta.

“Register to be a donor online at donatelife.gov.au is easy and takes less than a minute.”

Throughout DonateLife Week community events and activities are held across the country to raise awareness.

“With 1,400 Australians currently wait listed for a transplant, and a further 11,000 on dialysis, we can do more,” said Ross Vasta.

“Bonner residents get behind this campaign and share their registration with a plus one.”

“If every registered donor reached out and encourage another person to sign up we would double the rate of potential donors on the register.”

“That means more potential for people living with terminal and chronic illness may one day have their lives changed.”

“I encourage everyone to throw their support behind this campaign and talk to your friends, family, colleagues and sporting or community group about registering as an organ and tissue donor”

If you’re a registered donor, or become a registered donor during DonateLife Week encourage one other person to register with you.

You can share your awareness events and sow your support online by sharing information about donation through social media using the campaign hashtags #DonateLife and #whoisyourplusone.

Thank you to all donors and their families who have generously consented to organ or tissue donation.

Round Two of Australian Aid Friendship Grants are now open for charities, local government groups and organisations.

Since starting last year, this three-year program has allocated $10 million to strengthen our relationships between our not-for-profit organisations and our neighbours in the Indo-Pacific region.

Eligible non-profit organisations can apply for a one-off grant from $30,000 right up to $60,000 to assist these countries that face various needs and challenges.

Last year, World Hope International from Mackenzie was successful in receiving a Friendship Grant to further their work in Cambodia to build all-year-round climate-controlled mushroom grow houses.

Over 200 applications were received for the Friendship Grants Program that was awarded to 46 organisations through their merit-based selection process.

Round two of the Australia Aid Friendship closes 1 pm AEST 10 September 2019

To know more on how to apply for the Friendship Grant, visit the DFAT website

www.dfat.gov.au/friendshipgrants.

The $185 million Dementia, Ageing and Aged Care 10 year mission funded through the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) has been well invested according to Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta during a recent to visit the Queensland Brain Institute at the University of Queensland.

Announced by the Liberal-National Government last year, The Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research at the Queensland Brain Institute was the first recipient of the mission with $10 million for dementia research.

Invited by the Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research (CJCADR) to see the research first hand, Mr Vasta stated that this package is an advancement to the health economy of Australia.

“It is the single largest boost in health and medical research funding in Australia’s history,” Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta said

“The Morrison Government’s commitment to further research into dementia and ageing is a responsibility not taken lightly and the research work done by the team at UQ is taking phenomenal strides to reduce the impact of this disease.”

Mr Vasta invited local dementia advocates from Bonner to join him on the tour and presentation at the QBI world-class research facility. The tour examined the different technologies and new methods researchers are using to reduce the risk of this neurological disease to ensure all Australians have a better quality of life.

Director of the Queensland Brain Institute Professor Pankaj Sah recognises the financial need behind the research to prevent the risk of over one million Australians to be diagnosed by the disease by 2056.

“Ross [Vasta] has been a fantastic supporter and got us in touch with the Federal Government and out of that has come the current round of funding,” Mr Sah said.

“We couldn’t really do any of the stuff we do without their support.”

Our Government is able to provide unprecedented levels of support to health and medical research because of our strong economic management, Mr Vasta said.

Mr Vasta will continue to work with the team at QBI and local dementia groups.

Around 71,375 low and middle income earners in Bonner will start to receive immediate tax relief from next week.

“The Coalition Government has delivered on its promise to build a better tax system and provide more tax relief in Bonner,” Mr Vasta said.

“This will ensure low and middle income earners in Bonner will keep more of what they earn and have more money in their pockets. This will ultimately boost household consumption, which will be good for the overall economy.

“Those earning up to $126,000 in Bonner will receive up to $1,080, and dual income couples will receive up to $2,160.”

The tax package provides a further $158 billion in tax relief, building on the already legislated Personal Income Tax Plan that we announced in the 2018-19 Budget.

The Government has also locked in the benefits of low and middle income tax relief by increasing the top threshold of the 19 cents in the dollar tax bracket from $41,000 to $45,000 and by increasing the low income tax offset from $645 to $700 in 2022-23.

In combination with the legislated removal of the 37 per cent tax bracket in 2024-25, the Government is delivering structural reform to the tax system by reducing the 32.5 cents in the dollar tax rate to 30 cents in the dollar.

“Together, these tax relief measures will create a flatter and better tax system that will improve incentives for those working hard in Bonner,”Mr Vasta said.

“It will also ensure that 94 per cent of Australians will face a marginal tax rate no higher than 30 cents in the dollar in 2024-25.

“Australians voiced their loud and clear support for our comprehensive tax package at the election. They supported a tax system that rewards aspiration and encourages effort, and we have delivered it.

“Lower taxes are part of our plan for a stronger economy.”