Federal Member for Bonner, Ross Vasta, today announced that the next application rounds for the Australian Government’s Green Army and 20 Million Trees programmes were now open.

“The Government wants local people to join the Green Army to work on local projects in our community, and we want local groups to come forward with ideas for projects,” Mr Vasta said.

“We invite potential project hosts such as community organisations, Landcare groups, natural resource management organisations, environment groups, Indigenous organisations, local councils and others to put forward local project ideas as part of Round 4 of the Green Army,” Mr Vasta said.

Round 4 Green Army applications are open until 2pm Canberra time (AEST) on Wednesday, 16 September 2015.

“Information sessions about how to get involved in the Green Army are currently running across Australia for local community groups and young people interested in signing up,” Mr Vasta said.

Mr Vasta encouraged those interested to attend one of two information sessions to be held in Brisbane on Thursday, 20 August 2015 at the Mercure Hotel:

• Project Host Information Session – 9am to 11am;

• Participant Information Session – 11am to 1pm.

Mr Vasta also invited community groups, organisations and individuals to start their own tree planting projects by applying for grants under Round 2 of the 20 Million Trees Programme, which aims to see 20 million trees planted across Australia by 2020.

“Funding of up to $5 million is now available under the second round of the programme with grants of between $20,000 and $100,000 available for projects which will re-establish native vegetation, provide habitat to support threatened species and to improve the local environment,” Mr Vasta said.

“This is a great opportunity for the many local people in our community who are committed to conservation and green spaces.”

Applications for Round 2 of the 20 Million Trees Programme are open until 2pm Canberra time (AEST) on Wednesday, 16 September 2015.

“I look forward to seeing these trees—and the millions to follow under this programme—grow into thriving green corridors and urban forests,” Mr Vasta said.

More information about Round 4 of the Green Army Programme, including eligibility, project guidelines, application form and the full schedule of community information sessions is available at www.australia.gov.au/greenarmy.

More information about Round 2 of the 20 Million Trees Programme is available at www.nrm.gov.au/20-million-trees.

Consumers in Bonner and across Australia will soon benefit from clearer, simpler information about where products come from.

Federal Member for Bonner, Ross Vasta said new country of origin food labels will begin to appear on supermarket shelves later this year.

“It is important to ensure consumers have the information they need to make informed choices about the products they buy,” Mr Vasta said. 

In February, the Government established a review of Australia’s Country of Origin Labelling laws.

The Prime Minister Tony Abbott, Minister for Industry and Science Ian Macfarlane and Minister for Agriculture Barnaby Joyce unveiled the changes on Tuesday.

Minister for Industry and Science Ian Macfarlane said the new food labelling system will show consumers where products are made, grown or packaged.

“Foods processed locally will have a new label which includes the familiar green and gold kangaroo and triangle icon, with a bar chart showing what proportion of the ingredients are from Australia,” Mr Macfarlane said.

“This will include, for example, ‘Made in Australia from 100% Australian ingredients’, ‘Packed in Australia, Made in Canada’ and ‘Made in Australia from Australian carrots and French peas’”.

Minister for Agriculture Barnaby Joyce said companies will be encouraged to provide additional information on their labels such as naming the origin of a number of key ingredients.

“The green and gold triangle design was the overwhelming preference of more than 17,800 respondents to the Government’s food labelling community survey,” Mr Joyce said.

“The new labels will be easy for shoppers to identify. Consumers will no longer have to search for the country of origin information hidden in small print.”

Consumers in Bonner and across Australia will be able to make a quick comparison of products on the shelves. Digital options are also being developed so consumers who want more detailed information can get it.

These reforms will also clarify the definition of ‘made in’ Australia. Importing ingredients and simply slicing them will no longer qualify for a ‘made in’ claim.  

Under the new scheme, if a product is imported into Australia and then re-packed, the label will identify where the item came from.

The Commonwealth Government will continue to work with the States and Territories, whose agreement is required to roll out the new labels. 

Mr Vasta said an initial voluntary take-up of the country of origin food labels will mean shoppers across Australia including in Bonner should see changes on the shelves later this year. 

“The mandatory rollout will commence in 2016, providing manufacturers with time to implement the new scheme,” Mr Vasta said.

“I encourage all those interested in further information on country of origin labelling to visit www.industry.gov.au/cool.”

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta joined the local community on the weekend for the opening of the Mt Gravatt Men’s Shed Extension, a jointly funded project between the Australian Government and the Mt Gravatt Men’s Shed.

“The project will provide a venue for the residents of Mt Gravatt and neighbouring regions to come together to socialise as well as improve their skills in activities such as woodworking, woodturning, carpentry and welding,” Mr Vasta said.

“Men’s Sheds facilitate community engagement, offer a place for people to learn new skills and provide an important social support network for its members.”

Mt Gravatt Men’s Shed President Murray Rogash said he was delighted with the assistance the group had received at a Federal, state and local government level.

“We’re absolutely thrilled to have received the support enabling us to get to this stage,” Mr Rogash said.

“The Men’s Shed now provides 19 different activities for 260 members from 43 different postcodes.”

Project works included:

• Construction of a 85m2 extension to the existing Men’s Shed for use as a recreational space;
• Construction of new 110m2concrete slab and veranda;
• Installation of new veranda roofing;.
• Internal and external painting of the extension;
• 2m2expansion to the existing kitchen; and
• Fit-out of the kitchen.

Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Jamie Briggs said the opening of the extension was yet another example that Ross Vasta and the Australian Government were delivering better community infrastructure in Bonner.

The Australian Government provided $100,000 for the project through its $350 million Community Development Grants Programme, while the Mt Gravatt Men’s Shed contributed $40,000.

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta MP was pleased to announce that Burbank and Moreton Island residents will benefit from the Federal Government’s $100 million in Commonwealth funding for the first stage of the mobile black spot programme. 

There is a strong community demand for improved mobile phone coverage in Bonner and Mr Vasta has worked hard to ensure Bonner gets the upgrades it needs to address the problem.  

“Mobile phone black spots is one of the most frequently raised issue in Bonner. After years of neglect, I’m thrilled to see the Abbott Government investing into Bonner to help eliminate these blackspots,” Mr Vasta said. 

This is the first instalment of a wider programme that will see an additional investment of $60 million Australia wide. 

More broadly, Abbott Government’s Mobile Black Spot Programme will deliver almost 500 new or upgraded mobile base stations around Australia – 429 Telstra base stations and 70 Vodafone base stations.

This is the most significant one time increase in mobile network coverage to outer metropolitan, regional and remote Australia delivered by a single public funding programme in the history of mobile communications in Australia.

The first base stations to be funded under the Programme will begin to roll out in the second half of 2015, and the full roll out will continue over a three year period.

Federal Member for Bonner, Ross Vasta today congratulated Griffith University, which has received $467,000 in Commonwealth funding to promote excellence in learning and teaching in higher education.

Mr Vasta welcomed the Government’s announcement of $4.7 million in funding as part of its ongoing commitment to maintaining a world class higher education sector by developing the best teaching and student learning experiences.

This represents funding under the 2015 Office for Learning and Teaching (OLT) national fellowships programme as well as the first round of recipients in 2015 under the OLT grants programme.

Griffith University will use the prestigious funding to identify possible post-practicum interventions aimed at maximising learning outcomes from student work experiences and securing learning outcomes associated with graduate employability.

“This funding will allow collaboration with other university partners to enhance academic development and course design and improve the experience of students in our higher education institutions,” Mr Vasta said.

“These investments will also help Griffith University embrace emerging technologies for course delivery and student support, allowing a better alignment between higher education and industry needs.”

“We are committed to strengthening our higher education sector and the education that it offers to our students, and improving its global competitiveness.”

For a full list of 2015 Office for Teacher Learning grant recipients and fellows visit www.olt.gov.au.