Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta MP has been chosen to represent Australia at the 2019 United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in September.

Mr Vasta said the appointment to the UNGA was a great honour and he was very humbled to be chosen to represent Australia and vote on key international issues.

“The General Assembly is held in New York and is the main deliberative, policy-making and representative body of the UN,” Mr Vasta said.

“It’s where all Member States have equal representation – one nation, one vote, and decisions are made on important questions such as those on peace and security.

“All 193 Member States are represented in this forum and our aim is to discuss and work together on a wide range of international issues covered by the UN Charter, from development, peace and security, to international law.”

Mr Vasta said he looked forward to speaking on a number of issues during the General Assembly and being part of the decision-making process which ultimately affects the lives of millions of people throughout the world.

“Overall the UNGA goals are to attain peace, security and disarmament, along with supporting development, safeguarding human rights, protecting our environment and strengthening the United Nations,” Mr Vasta said.

“It is a tremendous honour to be chosen to represent our great nation and I look forward to sharing my journey with my constituents in Bonner.”

Support is growing for a community garden and food waste recycling space on the vacant block in front of Woolworths Central in Wynnum.

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta MP was joined by Assistant Minister for Waste Reduction and Environmental Management, Trevor Evans MP on Monday (August 19) to tour the proposed site on Charlotte Street.

“This fantastic idea is being headed up by Wynnum Business General Manager David Bateson and Coffee Club Wynnum owner Kathryn Shepherd,” Mr Vasta said.

“Their proposal is to convert the Wynnum Central Park into a community garden, establish food waste recycling for food outlets, and relocate a hot composting machine to the site which is currently sitting unused.”

Mr Vasta said the project aimed to reduce food waste going to landfill, activate an unused space in the centre of town and position Wynnum at the forefront of ‘reduce reuse recycle’ initiatives nationally.

“I’m looking forward to supporting this project going forward and if we can get every level of government on board it will be a fantastic community initiative,” Mr Vasta said.

“The more we can do to reduce our food waste and encourage sustainable activity, the better off our local environment will be.”

Member for Bonner Ross Vasta MP visited Redeemer Lutheran College last Tuesday (August 13) and was joined by Minister for Population, Cities and Urban Infrastructure, the Hon Alan Tudge to discuss the schools proposed roadwork upgrades.

Mr Vasta said while the Morrison Government had delivered $14 million to upgrade the Rochedale Road roundabout, fixing the school drop off and parking zone would further improve peak hour congestion.

“I wanted Minister Tudge to see the school’s proposed upgrades and how it could vastly improve the Rochedale Road congestion by taking parent traffic off the road,” Mr Vasta said.

“Principal Tania Cooks has shown us how their proposal will assist with the roundabout upgrade and stop the queuing that happens at drop off and pick up times.

“This roadwork upgrade is in desperate need and I am behind Redeemer 100 per cent.”

Mr Vasta said the proposed work would also take bus traffic off Rochedale Road by providing bus bays at the back of the college.

“This is not only a win for commuters and busting congestion, but will provide a tremendous improvement to student safety,” Mr Vasta said.

“I’d like to thank Minister Tudge for touring the site with me and I’ll be working with the college to see what assistance the Morrison Government can provide.”

Australian Parliament was brought to Redeemer Lutheran College on Friday (August 16) when year six students took part in a mock Parliament session.

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta MP visited the school to help students better understand how Australia’s Parliament works.

“Mock Parliament is a federal government resource that educates and puts the power in student’s hands,” Mr Vasta said.

“Law making is one of the main activities of the Federal Parliament and during parliamentary debate, ideas are tested, challenged and refined and ultimately accepted or rejected.

“Being part of the mock Parliament helps students understand how proposals for federal law – bills – are considered by the Parliament.

“It is so exciting to see young Australians enthusiastic about government and politics and the year six students at Redeemer did a great job presenting questions and debate topics for the mock Parliament.”

Mr Vasta said mock Parliament was a useful way for students to gain a better understanding about how the government creates and debates policy, and how our democratic system allowed all voices to be heard.

“We want future generations to understand what it means when they learn about our Constitutional Monarchy and how the Lower and Upper Houses of Parliament work to introduce or improve on Australia’s laws which impact the lives of everyday Australians,” Mr Vasta said.

“By becoming members of Parliament, students learn through interaction and immersion, and I better look out because some of the students at Redeemer may have their eyes set on my job one day soon!”

For more information on how schools can get involved with Mock Parliament visit www.peo.gov.au

The Morrison Government is investing more than $22 million in a new program to support local environmental projects, giving communities in Bonner new opportunities to protect and care for our natural environment.

Under the government’s Communities Environment Program, each electorate will be provided with up to $150,000 to fund up to 20 local projects, with grants ranging from $2500 to $20,000 per project.

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta MP said the Communities Environment Program would empower local community groups to deliver practical improvements to the local environment.

“Community groups in Bonner are already delivering fantastic projects, whether it’s planting trees, cleaning up local waterways, reducing litter or protecting native species,” Mr Vasta said.

“This investment of more than $22 million will help these groups to make our local region cleaner and greener for future generations.”

A broad range of organisations are eligible for nomination, including community clubs, not-for-profit organisations, landcare groups and schools.

More information is available at www.business.gov.au/cep.

‘Destination Moon’ is the theme of this year’s National Science Week and the students at Wynnum West State School were getting into the spirit with their creative moonscape maze.

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta MP visited the school on Monday where year five students were using iPads to drive sphero robots around a moonscape maze.

“The sphero robots were purchased thanks to a federal government science grant and is an important part of the school’s STEM program,” Mr Vasta said.

“It’s incredible to see the enthusiasm for science with students using robotic technology and learning how to code.”

Mr Vasta said National Science Week was a great opportunity to celebrate the social and economic impact of science on our nation.

“We can’t underestimate the importance of science, research and innovation, which are key drivers of the Morrison Government’s plan for a stronger economy,” Mr Vasta said.

“It’s particularly important that we inspire kids to study science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects and I’m pleased our government is helping schools achieve this.

“Many of the jobs of the future will require STEM skills and it’s crucial we have students embracing these subjects through primary and secondary schooling.”

For more information visit www.scienceweek.net.au

The generosity of the community resulted in more than 30 blankets being donated to Rosie’s and Mt Gravatt Community Centre as part of the Bonner Blanket Drive during Homelessness Week.

Member for Bonner Ross Vasta MP and Assistant Minister for Community Housing, Homelessness and Community Services Luke Howarth MP visited a number of community organisations on Friday (August 9) to thank volunteers for supporting those doing it tough.

“I would like to thank everyone who dropped new and cleaned pre-loved blankets into my office so we could pass them on to community groups that support people in need,” Mr Vasta said.

“Homelessness Week is about raising awareness of people experiencing homelessness and it was great to take Mr Howarth to a number of local organisations dedicated to helping people who have found themselves without a safe and secure home.”

Mr Vasta said winter was an extremely hard time for people who did not have a safe place to sleep, and the Bonner Blanket Drive was just one way he could help support the community organisations that do so much.

“There’s always more that we can do as a community to help our vulnerable, but even the smallest act of selflessness can make a tremendous difference to someone’s life,” Mr Vasta said.

Homelessness Week is on from August 4 to 10. For more information visit www.homelessnessaustralia.org.au

Bonner company Foxo Technology Pty Ltd headed up by local entrepreneur Luke Fletcher has received a $603,000 grant under the Morrison Government’s Entrepreneurs’ Programme – Accelerating Commercialisation.

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta MP said the Entrepreneurs’ Programme was a flagship program aimed at supporting business growth, innovation and commercialisation.

“This grant will help Foxo commercialise its innovative new project – Foxo – a secure communication and collaboration platform for health professionals,” Mr Vasta said.

“Foxo is a real-time messaging platform that will enable a seamless and secure exchange of clinical information between health professionals using smartphones or desktop.

“This innovative platform will help improve communication, reduce medical errors and overall better patient care.”

Mr Vasta said the grant would support Foxo commercialise through the development of enterprise features, sales and an international marketing strategy.

“We have some amazing people in our community coming up with new and innovative ideas, and to be able to support their business and help take it to the next level makes all the difference,” Mr Vasta said.

“We want to see businesses succeed and I am so pleased our government is supporting Luke and the company Foxo.”

Can question time in the House of Representatives be improved? What can we learn from other parliaments? These questions and more will be considered by the House Procedure Committee and the Australian public is being invited to have its say.

Chair of the committee Mr Ross Vasta said the committee had agreed to adopt the inquiry, which would examine the practice and procedure relating to question time in the House.

“Question Time is one of the most keenly watched parts of the sitting day,” Mr Vasta said.

“The committee will look at how question time runs and how this could be improved.”

Members of the public can make submissions to the inquiry and a public survey will open later in the year to collect further feedback.

The committee is particularly interested in suggestions about the format of question time and also how to make it easier for Australians to engage with question time.

“We want to hear ideas not just from parliamentarians but also from the public,” Mr Vasta said.

“This is a broad‑ranging inquiry that will look at the rules and conventions around question time and consider opportunities for change,” said Deputy Committee Chair Milton Dick.

In addition to public submissions, the inquiry will also seek comments from Members and consider how question time operates in other parliaments.

At the conclusion of its inquiry, the Committee will make recommendations to the House for its consideration. Further information about the inquiry and about making a submission is available on the Committee’s website.

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.