Women with or suspected of having breast cancer will be able to claim Medicare benefits for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, from 1 November 2019.

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta MP said approximately 14,000 patients each year, predominantly women, wouldbenefit from these services.

“The Morrison Government has added these new MRI services to the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) to ensure women vulnerable to breast cancer have affordable access to MRI,” Mr Vasta said.

Medicare rebates will be available for MRI scans for:

·         Diagnosis of breast cancer in patients where other imaging was inconclusive and a biopsy has not been possible; and

·         Pre-surgical planning for patients diagnosed with invasive breast cancer, where there is discrepancy between clinical assessment and conventional imaging assessment.

Mr Vasta said the new items for breast MRI would reduce the out-of-pocket costs faced by breast cancer patients.

“The Morrison’s Government commitment to Medicare is rock solid, with an additional $6 billion committed to Medicare benefits in the 2019-20 Budget,” Mr Vasta said.

The Government will provide $32.6 million for Medicare benefits for the services.

Thousands of offers are now available to Veteran Card holders in Bonner from businesses across Australia, as part of the Australian Defence Veterans’ Covenant.

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta MP said the Veteran Card provided the opportunity for businesses and organisations, big or small across the country to show their support and recognition of veterans.

“So far around 500 businesses are on board, making more than 10,000 offers available for Veteran Card holders, both over the counter and online,” Mr Vasta said.

“The businesses range from small family businesses through to large chains that operate nationally.“If you’re a business in Bonner, get on board and support the Australian Defence Veterans’ Covenant.”

Minister for Veterans and Defence Personnel Darren Chester MP said the new Veteran Card was available to all veterans as a practical demonstration of respect and recognition for their service.

“Our Government is committed to putting veterans and their families first and we provide more than $11 billion every year in support for veterans and their families,” Mr Chester said.

“Bringing corporate Australia on board will be a tangible benefit to the veteran community, with the card providing access to services and benefits for eligible veterans.

“The service and sacrifice of our veterans and their families to our nation is profound, and supporting our veterans through this program is a positive and tangible way to recognise that.”

Businesses honouring the Veteran Card include retailers, travel and tourism operators, accommodation and car hire, entertainment, hospitality, restaurants, as well as service and trade industries such as gyms to automotive mechanics.

A water safety program to train teachers and students to swim to survive has been awarded a $30,000 grant.

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta MP said the Mackenzie-based Craig Tobin Aquatics Pty Ltd was awarded the grant for its Collaborative Water Safety – Swim to Survive Program.

“This grant was awarded through the Australia-Korea Foundation (AKF) and trains teachers and students in Seoul, Busan and within Korea how to swim to survive,” Mr Vasta said.

“This program is run through Lifesaving Korea and was one of 33 recipients of the AKF’s grants program to promote projects in Australia and Korea.”

Mr Vasta said the grant would help the organisation expand on its program which was first launched in 2016 into Korea’s education system.

“This grant will help Craig Tobin Aquatics teach 200 teachers and more than 2000 primary school students in Korea how to swim,” Mr Vasta said.

The Australian Government is committed to promoting people-to-people and institutional linkages between Australia and Korea.

The AKF supports the development of sustainable partnerships between Australian and Korean institutions, professional bodies, non‑governmental organisations and private sector organisations in arts and culture, business, trade, education, and science and technology.

The AKF is administered by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. For more information about the AKF, successful grant recipients and the grants program, visit www.dfat.gov.au/AKF.