Salaibility Bayside volunteers have been able to obtain their First Aid and Resuscitation certification thanks to a $3000 Morrison Government Volunteer Grant.

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta MP said while the work of volunteers was unpaid, it was not unrecognised and the Volunteer Grant program went a long way to supporting organisations and their volunteers through what has been a trying year.

“Sailability is a fantastic volunteer organisation that offers a fun, safe and welcoming environment for people with disability to enjoy sailing and other water-based activities,” Mr Vasta said.

“I was very pleased to secure $3000 for the club as part of this program, which has funded their First Aid and Resuscitation certification.”

Mr Vasta said covering the out of pocket costs for Sailability volunteers to obtain their first aid would better support the organisation and clients who selflessly give their time to create a fun experience for people with disability.

“It takes a special kind of person to become a volunteers and help people with disability to enjoy a hobby like sailing,” Mr Vasta said.

“Sailability Bayside is a very deserving recipient of this Volunteer Grant.”

Nationally, volunteering has an estimated annual economic and social contribution of $290 billion.

The awarded grants are between $1000 and $5000 and this funding recognises the sacrifices volunteers make to help deliver vital services to those who need it most.

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Procedure this week continues its program of public hearings as part of its inquiry into the practices and procedures relating to question time in the House.

Chair of the committee Mr Ross Vasta said the committee will hear from a panel from the parliamentary press gallery and from former Speaker the Hon Peter Slipper.

‘This is an opportunity to explore perceptions of Question Time,’ Mr Vasta said.

‘Hearing different perspectives on Question Time and the role it plays in the parliamentary day will inform our consideration of practices and procedures,’ said Mr Milton Dick, the Deputy Chair of the committee.

The committee has so far conducted a public survey, received submissions, held public hearings and consulted with current Members. At the conclusion of its inquiry, the Committee will make recommendations to the House for its consideration. Further information about the inquiry is available on the Committee’s website.

Public hearing details

Date: Monday, 27 July 2020
Time: 3pm to 4pm
Location: By teleconference
Witnesses: Parliamentary Press Gallery

Date: Tuesday, 28 July 2020
Time: 2pm to 3pm
Location: by teleconference
Witness: The Hon Peter Slipper

The hearings will be broadcast live at aph.gov.au/live.

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta MP is encouraging everyone in Bonner to register as an organ and tissue donor and encourage others to also sign up DonateLife Week 2020.

DonateLife Week is Australia’s national awareness week dedicated to promoting organ and tissue donation.

Held from July 26 to August 2, DonateLife Week encourages all Australians 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,” Mr Vasta said.

“Registering to be a donor online is easy and takes less than a minute.”

Traditionally, DonateLife Week is celebrated with community events across Australia, however with social distancing restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic, an enhanced digital campaign will be run this year.

The campaign will feature the stories of donor families, recipients and others touched by organ and tissue donation to demonstrate the huge impact being a donor can have on fellow Australians.

“With 1700 Australians currently wait listed for a transplant, and a further 12,000 on dialysis, we can do more to save lives and make a difference,” Mr Vasta said.

“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.”

You can show your support online by sharing information about donation through social media using the campaign hashtag #DonateLifeWeek and following @DonateLife on Facebook and Instagram.

Thank you to all donors and their families who have generously consented to organ or tissue donation. Visit donatelife.gov.au for more information and to register as an organ donor.

Manly-Lota RSL Sub-branch has received a $23,000 Building Excellence in Support Training (BEST) grant to help provide advocacy services to veterans and their families in the Bonner community.

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta MP said the local RSL was one of 164 recipients across Australia to benefit from this grant program.

“Ex-Service Organisations and veteran groups play a crucial role in supporting the health and welfare of the veteran community,” Mr Vasta said.

“The BEST grants program provides these groups with an opportunity to expand on their services to further support veterans and their families.

“I’d like to congratulate the team at Manly-Lota RSL Sub-Branch who continually support veterans and their families to access the assistance and services they need, and I encourage veterans in our community to reach out to them.”

The BEST grants program funds a range of essential support measures from Ex Service Organisations (ESOs), advocates and welfare practitioners who continue to provide advice and assistance to the veteran and defence community. This round of BEST saw $4.2 million provided nationally to support organisations.

Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Darren Chester said staying connected with local ESOs and other veteran groups providing advocacy services was vital to ensure our veteran community received the support they needed.

“These organisations complement the support provided by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs and show just how deeply the community is committed to putting veterans and their families first,” Minister Chester said.

“At this time more than ever, advocacy services through ESOs can help our veterans and their families with their claims, entitlements and other services.”

For more information on BEST grants visit the grants page on the Department of Veterans’ Affairs website at www.dva.gov.au/grants

The JobKeeper program and the Coronavirus Supplement have been extended for those in Bonner under the next phase of the Morrison Government’s support for affected businesses and households.

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta MP said the unprecedented economic support for local businesses and their workers was helping the community through the COVID-19 pandemic and bolstering our economic recovery.

“Under the Morrison Government’s next phase of support, the JobKeeper Payment will continue at its current level until 27 September, after which it will be extended for a further six months to 28 March 2021,” Mr Vasta said.

“A two-tiered payment will also be introduced so as to better reflect the pre-COVID-19 income of payment recipients.”

From 28 September until 3 January 2021, the two payments will be $1200 and $750 per fortnight, with the lower payment for employees who worked less than 20 hours a week in the month of February pre-COVID-19.

From 4 January to 28 March 2021, the two payments will be $1000 and $650.

The temporary Coronavirus Supplement for those on income support will also be extended until 31 December 2020.

The $550 per fortnight Supplement will continue until 24 September.

From 25 September until 31 December 2020, the Supplement will be $250 per fortnight, reducing by the same amount as the JobKeeper payment.

Mr Vasta said the continued support for Australians who were without work, and for businesses and their workers would help his electorate to not only get through the crisis, but recover on the other side.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said the extension of support recognised Australia’s economic recovery was still in its early stages and a number of local businesses and individuals remained significantly affected by the global COVID-19 pandemic.

“The Morrison Government’s focus remains on reopening the economy where it is safe to do so, but the extension of these measures recognises that some parts of the economy will continue to be affected and need continued support,” the Treasurer said.

“Sadly, as a result of this global health pandemic, businesses will close and people will lose their jobs, but that is why we have extended the Coronavirus Supplement and announced a new skills package to help people transition from welfare to work.”

Mr Vasta said extending the JobKeeper payment beyond September would help keep businesses in business and Australians in jobs as our economy reopens.

“The program has made a difference to local businesses in Bonner by keeping a connection between employers and employees to help them get to the other side of the crisis.”

For more information visit www.treasury.gov.au/coronavirus

The Morrison Government will invest $2 billion to give hundreds of thousands of Australians access to new skills by retraining and upskilling them into sectors with job opportunities.

The new JobTrainer skills package will also guarantee support for tens of thousands of apprentices in jobs across Australia, including the Bonner electorate, by subsidising their wages to keep them employed and training secured.

The new $1 billion JobTrainer Fund will provide up to an additional 340,700 training places across Australia to help school leavers and job seekers access pre-apprenticeships, short courses and full qualifications to develop new skills in growth sectors and create a pathway to more qualifications.

Courses will be free or low cost in areas of identified need, with the Federal Government providing $500 million with contributions matched by State and Territory Governments.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the JobTrainer skills package was focused on getting people into jobs.

“JobTrainer will ensure more Australians have the chance to reskill or upskill to fill the jobs on the other side of this crisis,” the Prime Minister said.

“COVID-19 is unprecedented, but I want Australians to be ready for the sorts of jobs that will come as we build back and recover.”

The package also includes an additional $1.5 billion to expand the wage incentive to help keep apprentices in work, which builds on the initial $1.3 billion package announced in March.

In addition to small businesses already covered, the wage subsidy will now be available to medium businesses with less than 200 employees for apprentices employed as at 1 July 2020.

Around 180,000 apprentices and 90,000 small and medium businesses employing them will now be supported, with the program extended by six months to March 2021.

The initiative covers 50 per cent of the wages paid to apprentices and trainees, up to $7000 per quarter.

Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business Michaelia Cash said the JobTrainer skills package would form a vital part of the national recovery efforts.

“Our nation has faced many challenges, and it is critical we keep our apprentices in jobs and help those looking for work,” Minister Cash said.

“This package will be essential as the economy rebuilds so people looking for work can reskill and upskill for in-demand jobs, provide school leavers with a pathway into their careers, and ensure businesses are able to get the skilled workers they need.”

Assistant Minister for Vocational Education, Training and Apprenticeships Steve Irons said the expanded wage subsidy would more than double the number of supported apprentices and trainees.

“The Supporting Apprentices and Trainees wage subsidy will now help almost 90,000 businesses employing around 180,000 apprentices and trainees throughout Australia,” Assistant Minister Irons said.

“This will dramatically improve the viability of tens of thousands of apprenticeships and the businesses employing them right across the country.”

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta MP said the Skills Package would provide a much-needed boost to jobseekers and school leavers in his electorate to ensure jobseekers were trained in the skills needed by our local businesses community.

“Backing training, apprentices, and jobs is all part of the Morrison Government’s plan to restore our economy after the coronavirus pandemic and keep Australians in our local area in work.,” Mr Vasta said.

States and territories need to sign up to a new Heads of Agreement to access JobTrainer funding, with the agreement setting out immediate reforms to improve the vocational education and training sector, and providing the foundation for long term improvements as outlined by the Prime Minister in his recent speech to the National Press Club.

The Morrison Government will help local small businesses as they move into the recovery phase of the coronavirus crisis by extending the Coronavirus SME Guarantee Scheme which supports small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) to get access to the funding they need to adapt and innovate during the coronavirus crisis.

Under the existing Scheme, the Government is providing an unprecedented level of support to SMEs in partnership with 44 approved lenders by guaranteeing 50 per cent of new unsecured loans to SMEs.

The Scheme has already seen more than 15,600 businesses accept loans worth $1.5 billion.

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta MP said the next phase of the Coronavirus SME Guarantee Scheme would help small businesses in his electorate move out of hibernation, successfully adapt to the new COVID-safe economy and invest for the future.

“Extending the SME Guarantee Scheme is our Government’s way of supporting small businesses as they seek to rebuild, adapt and create local jobs on the other side of the coronavirus crisis,” Mr Vasta said.

Key changes to the Scheme include:

• Extending the purpose of loans able to be provided beyond working capital, such that a wider range of investment can be funded;
• Permitting secured lending (excluding commercial or residential property);
• Increasing the maximum loan size to $1 million (from $250,000) per borrower;
• Increasing the maximum loan term to five years (from three years); and
• Allowing lenders the discretion to offer a repayment holiday period.

The extended terms of the Scheme will enable lenders to continue supporting Australian small businesses when they need it most.

The expanded Scheme will shift from providing access to working capital to helping businesses stay afloat during the crisis to now also enabling them to access more affordable and longer-term credit so that they can invest for their future.

The initial phase of the Scheme remains available for new loans issued by eligible lenders until 30 September 2020.

The second phase of the Scheme will start on 1 October 2020 and will be available until 30 June 2021.

For more information visit www.business.gov.au

Community groups in Bonner can apply for new NAIDOC local grants to help showcase the best of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture during this year’s NAIDOC Week celebrations.

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta MP said NAIDOC Week 2020 would be held between November 8 – 15 and there was $1.4 million available to support local communities to host events and other activities during the week.

“All Australians are excited to start planning and attending in-person and virtual events in a COVID safe way and NAIDOC Week will be an opportunity to celebrate our resilience,” Mr Vasta said.

“Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people play a vital role in the story of our nation and through these grants, events will be held to celebrate our proud history and shared culture, and also recognise and honour the contributions and achievements of Indigenous Australians.”

Mr Vasta said this year’s theme was Always Was, Always Will Be.

“I look forward to our local community groups engaging with Indigenous culture, gaining a greater understanding of our nation’s shared history and celebrating the unique place Indigenous peoples have in our society,” Mr Vasta said.

“I encourage everyone to plan how they will get involved with NAIDOC Week and look forward to unique events and other activities to showcase the best of Indigenous Australia in a safe way.”

Information on the 2020 NAIDOC local grants round is available on the National Indigenous Australians Agency website www.niaa.gov.au/naidoc

Applications close 17 August 2020 and all applicants from the previous round in March will be contacted by the National Indigenous Australians Agency and provided guidance on how to re-apply.

Events and information about NAIDOC Week 2020 will be posted to www.naidoc.org.au

The Coalition Government is calling for public submissions into a review of the Disability Standards for Education 2005.

Minister for Education Dan Tehan said the standards played a key role in ensuring students with disability could access and participate in education without any barriers.

“It’s incredibly important we review these standards regularly to make sure they are doing their job to give equal access and opportunity for students with disability,” Mr Tehan said.

“The standards help students with disability and their families know their rights and make clear the obligations of all education providers – from preschool and kindergarten through to vocational education providers and universities.

“This could include making reasonable adjustments in the classroom, such as additional learning support and modifying homework tasks, or adjusting the classroom environment to suit a student’s mobility needs.

“An extensive community consultation process will be held from 16 July to 25 September, providing an opportunity for the public to share experiences and ideas.”

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta MP said he strongly encouraged current, former and prospective students with disability, their families and carers, educators, and other members of the public to share their thoughts on the standards and their implementation.

“People can have their say by completing an online questionnaire, making a submission, participating in a webinar, or by expressing their interest in a focus group, one-on-one interview, or an online discussion,” Mr Vasta said.

The first webinar on 23 July will centre on schooling.

The standards are reviewed every five years.

For more information, visit the Consultation Hub at www.disabilitystandardsreview.education.gov.au

A national campaign has been launched to support the recovery of Australia’s small businesses by calling on all Australians to ‘Go Local First’.

Funded by the Morrison Government, the campaign led by the Council of Small Business Organisations Australia (COSBOA) will urge Australians to ‘Go Local First’ when purchasing products and services to help the small business sector get back on its feet.

The campaign will highlight the vital role of small businesses in our nation’s economic recovery from COVID-19.

Minister for Small and Family Business, Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash said now more than ever Australian small businesses needed local communities to back them and support their recovery by choosing to shop with them either in-person or online.

“Australians know when they make the choice to go to their local small businesses, they are supporting their community and the national economy as a whole,” Minister Cash said.

“The ‘Go Local First’ campaign will feature numerous small businesses from across Australia including cafes, chemists, retailers, trades, hairdressers, butchers, accountants and bookkeepers.”

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta MP said spending with local small businesses kept money within our communities and helped the local economy thrive.

“This campaign is all about getting behind your local small business whether it is your local baker, plumber, barista or butcher for example,” Mr Vasta said.

“Every small business employs locals in our community and it’s time we all come together and support one another.

“The resourcefulness of Australians working together will see us emerge stronger on the other side.

“I encourage everyone in our local community to actively support this campaign and do whatever you can to back our fantastic small and family businesses and Go Local First.”

Over the coming months, Australians will see the ‘Go Local First’ message on TV, radio, online and in their community.

For more information on the campaign visit www.golocalfirst.com.au