This week’s Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook confirms the strength of the Australian economy and that the budget will return to surplus.

Returning the budget to surplus is part of the Liberal National Government’s plan to keep the economy strong and guarantee the essential services people in Bonner rely on.

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta said we have made real progress in strengthening the Australian economy; it’s because of this good fiscal management that the people of Bonner can trust that their vital services are guaranteed under the Morrison Government.

“We are on track for a budget surplus in 2019-20, our unemployment rate has fallen to five per cent and welfare dependency is at its lowest rate in over 25 years.”

The underlying cash balance is forecast in MYEFO to improve from a deficit of $5.2 billion in 2018-19 to a surplus of $4.1 billion in 2019-20.

The surpluses are forecast to increase year-on-year to $12.5 billion in 2020-21 and $19 billion in 2021-22.

“A stronger economy is the key to delivering better essential services in Bonner,” Mr Vasta said.

“It means we can continue delivering record funding for schools, hospitals and infrastructure.

“It also means tax relief for hard working Australians and small and family businesses.”

The Liberal National Government’s plan for a stronger economy is: tax relief to encourage and reward working Australians; backing small business to create more jobs; fixing the budget; guaranteeing funding for schools, hospitals and other essential services; and keeping Australians safe.

Next year’s budget will be the first surplus budget since the last year of the Howard Government. It’s been 30 years since Labor delivered a surplus and now we are cleaning up their mess.

The Liberal National Government will support our older Australians and our ageing population in Bonner with a $185 million medical research package focused on ageing, aged care and dementia.

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta said the 10-year Dementia, Ageing and Aged Care Mission will be funded through the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) and its focus will include:

• Dementia (diagnosis, treatment and prevention)
• Fall prevention and avoidable hospitalisations
• Assistive technology to support independence

Minister for Health Greg Hunt said in Australia, there are an estimated 420,000 people living with dementia.

“There is currently no cure and existing medications only treat symptoms, without halting or reversing the underlying neurodegeneration,” Minister Hunt said.

“Without a medical breakthrough, the number of Australians living with dementia is expected to increase to almost 1.1 million by 2056.”

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta said the need for investment in research to develop new treatments and to improve dementia care is evident.

“We’re committed to ensuring Australians of all ages in the local area have access to the support they need to face life’s challenges,” Mr Vasta said.

“Our Government is able to provide unprecedented levels of support to health and medical research because of our strong economic management.”

“The MRFF is an endowment fund, which will mature at $20 billion, providing a sustainable source of funding for vital medical research.”

“It is the single largest boost in health and medical research funding in Australia’s history.”

Bonner students and locals will benefit from greater access to environmental education thanks to a grant received from Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta.

Mr Vasta advocated and secured $2,800 for the Bulimba Creek Catchment Group as part of the Federal Government’s $22.5 million Stronger Communities Programme.

Mr Vasta said this funding will enable the group to expand its existing outdoor classroom and facilities and enable greater education opportunities within the Bonner community.

“Wayne Cameron and the team at B4C take such pride in local bush regeneration and providing education to locals and schools they’re a very valuable part of this community and I’m proud to advocate on their behalf to continue this work,” said Mr Vasta.

B4C Catchment Manager Wayne Cameron said this funding will enable B4C to construct and erect 15 fauna nest boxes (hollow log homes) on poles to expand its education program.

“The community will benefit from being able to see and learn more about the local environment and the fauna that live within it, it will also enable us to inspire others through hands-on activities, and empower locals to consider what they can do for the local environment.

“The project will bring together school communities, local bush care groups and local residents in the area for positive and practical learning and environmental outcomes through education projects and activities such as this one,” Mr Cameron said.

The nesting boxes are expected to be finished and erected by March 2019.

The new Australian Aid: Friendship Grants program is bringing a new and diverse group of community partners from across Australia into the aid program, strengthening connections between Australian communities and communities in the Indo-Pacific.

It is in Australia’s interests to support economic growth and stability in the Indo-Pacific through our development assistance. Strong relationships between Australian communities and communities in our region are an effective way to promote inclusive development, human security and prosperity.

I am pleased to congratulate World Hope International from Bonner on receiving an Australian Aid: Friendship Grant.

The Friendship Grant will help World Hope International to use mushroom grow houses in Cambodia to grow mushrooms year round in a climate-controlled space.

Friendship Grants were awarded to 46 community organisations from across Australia so they can expand or enhance their existing international development activities in 15 countries in our region, including through new projects.

Recipients were selected through a merit-based selection process from a competitive and impressive field of more than 200 applications.

Round 2 of Australian Aid: Friendship Grants will open in 2019.

Further information about Australian Aid: Friendship Grants and the full list of successful applicants from Round 1 is available on the Friendship Grants page of the DFAT website (www.dfat.gov.au/FriendshipGrants).

In a win for Bonner, the first two F-35A Joint Strike Fighters to be based permanently in Australia have arrived at RAAF Base Williamtown.

Member for Bonner Ross Vasta said the project has created significant opportunities for local businesses to get involved in a global supply chain.

“Businesses such as Ferra Engineering are already benefiting from this project, undertaking work such as T25 Complex Machining, Mr Vasta said.

“Australian industry is making a crucial contribution to JSF production globally, with more than 50 Australian companies directly sharing in $1.2 billion in production contracts and supporting more than 2,400 jobs across Australia”

“Australian companies have not just contributed to our own aircraft but have manufactured parts that will be fitted to every F-35 Joint Strike Fighter in production globally.”

The Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Steven Ciobo MP, said there will be even more opportunity for Australian industry in Bonner as F-35 production rates increase and in the sustainment of the aircraft.

“Australian Industry will have the opportunity to maintain not only our own planes but also those from around the region, such as Japan and South Korea,” Minister Ciobo said.

The Minister for Defence, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP said the $17 billion Joint Strike Fighter project will be a game-changer for the Australian Defence Force.

“The Joint Strike Fighter is the largest acquisition in the history of the Royal Australian Air Force, and is a key part of the Government’s $200 billion build up in Defence capability,” Minister Pyne said.

“We are acquiring 72 of the most advanced, multi-role stealth fighters in the world. They will deliver next generation capability benefits and provide a major boost to our intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities,” Minister Pyne said.

The Liberal National Government is supporting jobs in the Queensland bait prawn industry as it works to recover from an outbreak of white spot syndrome virus. 

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said $5 million over three years will be shared among local organisations including those in Bonner to help keep our country free of the virus. 

The funding will also be used to educate commercial and recreational fishers on the risk of not using commercial bait. 

“The bait prawn industry plays an import role here in Queensland and we want to make sure these businesses survive and keep employing locals,” Prime Minister Scott Morrison said. 

“We want to help get rid of this virus so fisherman down the coast here can get back to business as usual.” 

Queensland’s continuing efforts to control and contain the disease mean uncooked prawns, including those used for bait, are unable to be moved outside of the affected area until they are treated. 

Industry, Science and Technology Minister Karen Andrews said the Queensland bait prawn industry is experiencing significant losses in revenue, affecting the livelihoods of Australian fisherman, both in Queensland and interstate. 

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta agreed and said the white spot outbreak area extends from Caloundra through the Bayside to the NSW border and west to Ipswich where the greasyback prawn is found

“This is a common bait for recreational fishers, and the Coalition is helping to stamp this virus out so that we can support our local fishing industry and small businesses in Bonner,” said Mr Vasta. 

The white spot syndrome virus is a highly contagious infection that affects crustaceans, such as prawns, crabs and yabbies. 

There is no impact to human health, so Australians are encouraged to support the local seafood industry, particularly over the Christmas period, by continuing to buy and eat Australian seafood.

The Liberal National Government will improve the health and care of patients in Bonner with a guaranteed $1.25 billion boost to health services.

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta said that this will provide more doctors, more nurses and more services in every state and territory.

“This is the tangible benefit of strong economy and it’s why we are so committed to keeping our economy strong,” Mr Vasta said.

“The $1.25 billion Community Health and Hospitals Program will fund projects and services in every state and territory, supporting patient care while reducing pressure on community and hospital services.”

Under the program, our Government will partner with communities like Bonner, states and territories, health and hospital services and research institutions to provide additional funding in four key areas:

• Specialist hospital services such as cancer treatment, rural health and hospital infrastructure
• Drug and alcohol treatment
• Preventive, primary and chronic disease management
• Mental health

Minister for Health Greg Hunt said the new program will complement the Coalition’s record investment in public hospitals.

“Our funding for public hospitals across Australia will more than double under the Coalition from $13.3 billion in 2012–13 to $28.7 billion in 2024–25.”

“This is record public hospital funding delivering more doctors, more nurses and more services.”

“Our new five year National Health Reform Agreement will deliver more than $30 billion in additional public hospital funding from 2020–21 to 2024–25, taking overall funding during this period to $130.2 billion.”

“Three Liberal and three Labor states have already signed up to the new agreement.”

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta said that a strong economy enables the Liberal and Nationals’ Government to invest in even more doctors, nurses and public hospital services – benefitting patients across Australia.

“This is further supported by the record investment in Medicare, provision of medicines under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme to make them affordable for patients, and the breakthrough medical science occurring through the Medical Research Future Fund,” Mr Vasta said.

Over half a million Australians are getting a better deal on their energy prices thanks to pressure from the Morrison Government on the big energy companies to put customers first.

For too long the big energy companies have focused on their massive profits. We have demanded they put customers first, and lower their power prices.

AGL, Origin, and EnergyAustralia, along with other retailers, have heard our calls and will cut prices for customers on standing offers by up to 15 per cent.

On average, this will deliver an automatic savings of SE QLD $175 for residential customers in Bonner on 1 January 2019.

Ross Vasta MP, Member for Bonner said the Government’s energy policy is delivering for hardworking Australian families and small businesses.

“Rising power prices are impacting household budgets and are stopping small businesses from growing and employing more staff”, said Ross Vasta MP, Member for Bonner.

“The big energy companies have heard the Government’s calls for a fairer deal for Australian families and small businesses, and they have responded.”

We know that navigating your power bills and negotiating a better deal can be confusing and time consuming. That is why we recently launched a new a new phase of the Powering Forward campaign – focused solely on reducing power prices.

The Government has also been clear – the dodgy practices in the energy sector and exploitation of customers must stop.

The ACCC found in its Retail Electricity Pricing Inquiry price gouging, rip offs and anti-competitive practices was rife in the sector, labelling it “unacceptable and unsustainable”.

That is why the Government introduced big stick legislation to Parliament to hold the big energy companies to account.

Labor has voted against this ‘big stick’ legislation twelve times. They have sided with the big energy companies and their massive profits.

Only the Coalition Government can be trusted to deliver a balanced and sensible plan to ensure affordable, reliable 24/7 energy supply for Australians. We are taking strong action to lower power prices while we keep the lights on.

Labor’s energy policy guarantees you will pay more for your power. You can’t trust Bill Shorten to keep the lights on, and you can’t trust Labor to take a big stick to the energy companies to stop the rip-offs.

To find out more about how you can save, Member for Bonner urges customers to visit: poweringforward.energy.gov.au

Ross Vasta, Member for Bonner is encouraging locals to contribute to the Australian War Memorial initiative Places of Pride— an online national register of war memorials will record the locations and images of every publicly accessible memorial in Australia.

Mr Vasta said Places of Pride reminds Australians that, irrespective of distance, the stories told at the Australian War Memorial are those of our communities across the length and breadth of the country.

“I invite all members of the community to take part in this initiative and contribute images of their community’s memorials. This is a challenge to every RSL, Local Government Authority, school, and community group to get a photograph taken and upload it. The more the better,” said Mr Vasta.

“The interactive online register will be the basis of a stunning new display in the proposed expanded galleries of the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.

“Visitors will be able to log in the name of their town on the website, whether Mt Gravatt, Manly, Wynnum, Carindale or Eight Mile Plains and see their memorial come to life”.

Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Darren Chester said it was incredibly important to instil an ongoing sense of remembrance and respect in future generations of Australians.

“The way in which Australia commemorates our servicemen and women is just one of the many ways in which we publicly say to our ex-service community, thank you for your service,” he said.

Through Places of Pride the Australian War Memorial aims to connect all Australians, united by pride and loss, with each of these memorials from the Boer War through to Afghanistan,

Place of Pride can be found at: https://placesofpride.awm.gov.au.

The Liberal National’s Government will help people in Bonner living with an eating disorder get access to life-saving treatment with a $115 million landmark package.

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta welcomed the announcement and said for the first time; those Australians with severe eating disorders will now be able to access a comprehensive treatment plan under Medicare.

“Patients in Bonner will be able to access up to 40 Medicare funded psychological services and 20 dietetic sessions each year, from November 1, next year,” Mr Vasta said.

“Eating disorders have one of the highest mortality rates of any psychiatric illness, with anorexia by far the deadliest mental health condition in Australia. There are around 1 million Australians living with an eating disorder.”

Minister for Health Greg Hunt said the $110.7 million investment into the first dedicated Medicare item for eating disorders will benefit around 30,000 people each year living with these debilitating disorders, helping them to get better and stay out of hospital.

“This will undoubtedly save many lives as eating disorders can be debilitating for both men and women of any age and this illness is one of the many nightmares parents have for their children,” Minister Hunt said.

“It is only right that we recognise these debilitating conditions within our Medicare system.”

“We have worked closely with medical experts and key stakeholder for many months to achieve this outcome, and we thank the independent Medicare Benefits Schedule Review Taskforce for their work, following our request for a review last year.”

“Our Government will also provide $4 million to the InsideOut Institute for Eating Disorders.”

“This funding will support new research into better treatment and care for people living with an eating disorder condition,” Minister Hunt said.

Our Government is prioritising better mental health for all Australians with $4.7 billion expected to be spent on mental health this financial year.

This is also why we are so committed to keeping our economy strong. Because without a strong economy, and getting our budget back into balance – we can’t make these important decisions. This is why a strong economy matters.

The Liberal National’s Government’s strong economic management ensures the continued to investment of record amounts of funding into vital health initiatives including mental health, life-saving medicines, Medicare and public hospitals.