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.

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.”

Frequent traffic jams and buses backed up as far as the eye can see, making the daily commute for locals a nightmare isn’t enough for the State Labor Government to give the Brisbane Metro the go ahead.

Despite not needing to contribute any funds for the project the State Labor Government has ordered the Cultural Centre Depot plans be re-drawn.

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta said it’s disappointing to see the State Labor Government playing political games and holding up this project at the expense of the local residents.

“I’m pleased to have lobbied to secure $300 million worth of funding for the Brisbane Metro and it’s unfair to see local residents being used as pawns in a game by the State Government.”

“This Brisbane Metro project has the potential to significantly cut travel times for local residents and will allow them less time stuck in traffic and more time spent with their families.”

Mayor Adrian Schrinner said this recent change of heart from the State Government is very disappointing, but not surprising.

“We are so frustrated, after 276 meetings; all we need the State Government to do is get out of the way so that we can get on with building the Brisbane Metro.”

Brisbane City Council is hopeful that is can still complete the Brisbane Metro by the proposed date of 2023, however this late change from the State Government could push costs for the the $944 million project into the billions.

Not everyone enjoys the luxury of having flannelette sheets and a heater to come home to during the colder months.

For the month of June Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta is encouraging all locals to spare a thought for someone doing it tough in winter and donate a blanket.

Mr Vasta said he is working alongside Rosies – Friends on the street in Wynnum, and Mt Gravatt Community Centre to gather blankets for them to give to locals in need.

“Rosies and the Mt Gravatt Community Centre do a lot of great work in our local community and I’m always keen to help out wherever I can for locals who are having a hard time.

“I’ve started the ball rolling by donating three new blankets, and I’ve already had a number of people come into the office to donate some new and pre-loved blankets to this cause as well.”

Mr Vasta said they don’t have to be new blankets as long as they’re clean and in good condition.

Donations can be dropped into Ross Vasta MP at 69 Clara Street Wynnum any weekday between now and the end of July between 9am and 4:30pm.

Ross Vasta MP today reminded personnel leaving the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and now living in the Bonner community to book in for their Veteran Health Check.

This follows the announcement made by the Minister for Veterans and Defence Personnel, Darren Chester, that from 1 July 2019 all ADF personnel leaving full-time service can gain access to a fully funded comprehensive health check from a GP every year for the first five years.

“These health checks are specifically designed for veterans and allows them to keep on top of their health after they leave the ADF,” Mr Vasta said.

“The Veteran Health Check allows a veteran and their GP to act on any issues before they become major problems and for the GP to assess their patient’s current physical and mental wellbeing.”

More broadly, the Australian Government provides more than $230 million a year towards veteran mental health, as part of more than $11 billion for veterans and their families in this year’s budget.

“I encourage all veterans living here in the Bonner area to book in for their Veteran Health Check if they haven’t already,” Mr Vasta said.

“If someone in your family, or a friend, has left the ADF recently take a moment to remind them that they should be looking after their health and to talk to their GP today.”

ADF members who transition before 30 June 2019 will continue to be able to gain access to the comprehensive One-off Veteran Health Check (formerly known as the one-off ADF Post-Discharge GP Health Assessment) at any time post-transition.

For those in need of immediate mental health support and counselling, Open Arms – Veterans and Family Counselling Service can be contacted on 1800 011 046, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

To find out more about Veteran Health Checks, please visit the AT-Ease website or call DVA on 1800 555 254.