Students and schools in Bonner can test their spelling skills against the best by taking part in the inaugural Prime Minister’s Spelling Bee.

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta MP said the Spelling Bee was a nationwide competition for students in years three to eight to promote reading and literacy.

“Our Government believes literacy and numeracy skills should be the cornerstone of every student’s education,” Mr Vasta said.

“The Prime Minister’s Spelling Bee is such a great initiative because it will help improve spelling and reading, but overall helps improve learning.

“We need to encourage our young Australians to be avid readers so they become curious, creative and informed citizens.

“I visit schools in my electorate regularly and I see firsthand the benefits of strong literacy skills amongst students.

“I also get to meet many impressive young people as part of my work and I believe the students from Bonner are amongst the best spellers in the country.

“I encourage students and schools to sign up for the Prime Minister’s Spelling Bee, have some fun and improve your literacy skills.”

The first Prime Minister’s Spelling Bee gets underway from March 9, 2020.

For more information or to register visit www.kidsnews.com.au

The Morrison Government is helping manufacturers and exporters to create more local jobs and take on the world, with an extra $5 million to extend the international reach of the Australian Made logo.

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta MP said expanding the reach of the trusted symbol would give local businesses the chance to grow and create new jobs in his electorate.

“The gold kangaroo on a green triangle is synonymous with quality and makes products produced in our own backyard instantly more desirable,” Mr Vasta said.

“The Morrison Government wants to increase the impact of this trusted symbol overseas so our exporters can grow and employ more people here at home.

“This builds on the extensive work our government has done to secure trade deals and open up more opportunities for Australian businesses overseas.”

The $5 million grant will allow the trade mark to be registered and promoted in key export markets like the European Union, the United Kingdom and Canada.

There will also be an effort to crack down on misuse of the logo by strengthening its legal position in key export markets.

“In these challenging economic times, with global trade being disrupted, our exporters will benefit from this extra support for our national brand,” Mr Vasta said.

The money will be provided over four years to the Australian Made Campaign Limited (AMCL), which administers the logo.

The logo is a registered trade mark in the United States, China, South Korea and Singapore and proceedings are underway to register it in Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.

The Australian Made, Australian Grown logo is Australia’s only registered country of origin certification trade mark and can be used on all classes of goods.

It must always be used with one of the following descriptors: Australian Made, Australian Grown, Product of Australia, Australian Seafood or Australian.