People in Bonner who are suffering from pancreatic cancer will be able to access the breakthrough drug Abraxane on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) from November 1.

Member for Bonner, Ross Vasta, said pancreatic cancer was a highly aggressive disease with very few treatment options.

“The Australian Government has committed over $92 million over four years to subsidise Abraxane, which will improve the lives of around 1,500 Australians and their families,” Mr Vasta said.

Without the PBS listing of this medicine, patients would face an average cost of $16,000 for a course of treatment, at an average cost of $1,300 per script. Once listed on the PBS, that script will cost a concessional patient only $6.00.

The Commonwealth spends more than $9 billion annually to fund existing items on the PBS, which is up a staggering 80 per cent in the past decade.

The listing of nanoparticle albumin bound paclitaxel (Abraxane®) was recommended by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee in March, and the details were agreed with the pharmaceutical company in July. It has now received approval from Cabinet.

“Following agreement of pricing and listing arrangements with the pharmaceutical company, the Government has taken less than two months to consider the listing, making it one of the fastest listing approvals for a high cost medicine in recent years,” Mr Vasta said.

All PBS listings are subject to final arrangements being met by the suppliers of the medicine.

Government schools in Bonner will benefit from the Australian Government’s $70 million Independent Public Schools (IPS) initiative, designed to strengthen the capacity of school communities to make better decisions for students.

Member for Bonner, Ross Vasta, said Australian Government funding will flow to local schools as a result of an agreement between the Minister for Education, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP, and the Queensland Minister for Education, Training and Employment, the Hon John-Paul Langbroek MP.

“This is great news for our local community,” Mr Vasta said.

“No one is better placed to make decisions about how a school should be run than the principal, teachers and parents at that school.”

“This funding will expand Queensland’s Independent Public Schools initiative, and provide professional development to support local school leaders in making better decisions.”

Under this initiative, Queensland will receive $12.88 million from the Australian Government between 2014 and 2017 to enable an additional 130 government schools to become Independent Public Schools.

“This is over and above the state’s current program, and will directly benefit school principals, leadership teams and school communities in Bonner,” Mr Vasta said.

“The funding means the good work already happening in local schools can be expanded to provide more parents in our community with more choice.”

The funding will also assist with the development and delivery of three professional development programmes, and an online system to help schools better manage their budgets.

Mr Vasta said the IPS initiative is part of the Government’s Students First approach, which focuses on four key areas – teacher quality, school autonomy, parental engagement, and strengthening the curriculum – that will allow local schools to better meet the needs of students.

 For further information, visit www.studentsfirst.gov.au.

The Government is now inviting young people aged 17 to 24 years old to sign up to key Green Army projects in Bonner, Federal Member for Bonner, Ross Vasta, said today.

“These are some of the first Green Army initiatives to roll out in the country, and are aimed at restoring and rehabilitating our local natural habitat,” Mr Vasta said.

“I encourage young people in Bonner who want to gain valuable skills, training and experience in environmental and heritage conservation fields to become a part of this monumental environmental undertaking.”

Mr Vasta said Campbell Page, one of five appointed Green Army Service Providers that have been contracted to deliver Green Army projects across the country, has commenced recruitment for rehabilitation projects at:

·         Mansfield – area between Cresthaven Park and Caterson Park, on the southern side of Bulimba Creek;

·         Wynnum North;

·         Minnippi Parklands.

“Green Army participants will be able to undertake accredited training such as work readiness, conservation and land management, heritage conservation, project and human resource management and heritage trade skills,” Mr Vasta said.

“Participants will receive a Green Army allowance for the duration of their project. Participants will also be supported to obtain Certificate I or II qualifications or nationally endorsed skills set to help them prepare for the workforce or improve their career opportunities.”

Participation is open to a diverse range of young people, including school leavers, gap year students, graduates and job seekers. Participants must be aged between 17 and 24 years and an Australian citizen or permanent resident.

Young Australians interested in joining the Green Army can apply through the appointed Service Providers for each state and territory. Contact details for Service Providers are available from www.environment.gov.au/green-army.

Federal Member for Bonner, Ross Vasta, today said it was an honour to present at SpecialCare Central’s 2014 Recognition Awards on Friday, 12 September.

 “These awards recognise the hard work and achievements of worthy members of our community who have a disability, as well as businesses that employ people with a disability,” Mr Vasta said.

 “SpecialCare Central is to be commended for their excellent Disability Awareness and Opportunity Expo this year, which was their sixth annual event.”

 “Every year, the Expo brings together members of our community to offer support and recognition to those living with a disability.”

 The team at SpecialCare Central said they felt the Recognition Awards were the highlight of the Expo.

 “We are blessed to have the opportunity to acknowledge the wonderful people that make up our community,” Yvonne Campbell, organiser of the Expo, said.

 Ross Vasta said he was touched by the story of Ronald Sheehey, who has autism and who currently works as a kitchen hand for Greenmeadow Court, one of the Nominee Certificate recipients for Best Employer.

“Ronald once lacked confidence, and was quite shy and withdrawn – now through his work at Greenmeadow Court, he has gained the confidence to catch public transport to and from work, and has recently passed his Provisional Driver Licence exam,” Mr Vasta said.

 “It was wonderful to see employers like Greenmeadow Court, who have given so much support to their disabled employees, receiving the recognition they deserve.”

 “I look forward to hearing more from the award winners in future, as well as seeing more of the great work SpecialCare Central does for our disabled community.”

 To see more photos of the Expo and to read more about the event, visit www.specialcarecentral.com.au.

More than 3.7 million pensioners in Australia, including over 14,000 pensioners in Bonner, will receive an increase to their payments from September 20, Member for Bonner, Ross Vasta, said today.

“Single age pensioners will receive an increase of up to $11.50 a fortnight, while age pensioner couples will receive up to $17.40 extra a fortnight, the second rise this year,” Mr Vasta said.

“This means total pension payments for people on the maximum rate will be $854.30 a fortnight for singles, and $1,288.00 a fortnight for couples.”

“This is good news for the 14,189 age pensioners in Bonner.”

In addition, around one million allowance recipients will also benefit on September 20 from increases to income support payments such as Newstart and Parenting Payment.

Parenting Payment Single recipients will receive an extra $7.20 a fortnight to $732.30.

Newstart Allowance, Parenting Payment Partnered, Widow Allowance, Partner Allowance and Sickness Allowance will increase by $5.20 a fortnight for singles and $4.70 each for couples (including Energy Supplement).

Mr Vasta said the increases will help pensioners keep up with rises in cost of living expenses.

“Pensions will continue to increase in March and September every year under an Abbott Government,” Mr Vasta said.

“The Abbott Government is pleased to deliver increases to those on the Age Pension, Disability Support Pension, Carer Payment and veterans’ income support.”

“This is on top of our election commitment delivered earlier this week to annually index the income thresholds for the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card to CPI,” Mr Vasta said.

Full details of all rates and thresholds to be indexed on 20 September can be found at www.dss.gov.au/about-the-department/benefits-payments/indexation-rates-september-2014.

This weekend marks one year since the Australian people entrusted the Coalition with the job of building a stronger Australia.

Since then we have been working to deliver on our commitments to you and to make decisions that are in the best long-term interests of our country.

Our focus has been on building a strong, prosperous economy and a safe and secure Australia.

 We’re making progress:

 ·         The Carbon Tax is gone;

·         The boats are stopping;

·         Our record $50 billion roads and infrastructure programme is underway;

·         The Mining Tax has been abolished;

·         We’ve given environmental approvals to major new projects worth over $800 billion;

·         We’re boosting exports and jobs with Free Trade Agreements with two of our major trading partners;

·         We’re reducing Government debt and getting the Budget back under control;

·         And importantly, 109,000 new jobs have been created since the end of last year.

 
These achievements are just the start. You can read more here.

As a nation, we’ve also faced serious challenges in the past year because of the increasingly uncertain world in which we live.

Uncertainty in Syria, Iraq and Ukraine and the rise of violent extremism has tested Australia, as it has other nations.

In an increasingly uncertain world, we are determined to keep our nation safe and secure.

Over the next two years, the Government will continue its work building a stronger economy because that means more jobs and prosperity.

We’ll be building roads, protecting the vulnerable, ending rip-offs, fixing the Budget and ensuring our country is safe and secure.

Regards,

Tony Abbott
Prime Minister

Residents in Bonner should ensure they have retuned their digital television equipment, as part of the national relocation of digital television services that is due to end in December 2014, Federal Member for Bonner, Ross Vasta, said today.

“This retune process has been occurring progressively, moving free-to-air TV channels to different frequencies in order to make spectrum available for next-generation services such as mobile broadband,” Mr Vasta said.

“On or after their retune date, people will need to have retuned their digital TV, set top box or digital TV recorder to be able to view the channels that have changed frequencies.”

Mr Vasta said people can check their retune date at www.digitalready.gov.au/retune.

“Retuning is a simple process and will not affect the current quality of TV reception or coverage,” Mr Vasta said.

To retune, on your remote:

·         Press the “Menu” button;

·         Look for your set-up options and select options such as “Channels” or “Auto-tuning”;

·         A scanning bar may appear – when the scan finishes, you should be able to receive all available digital TV channels.

For more information or help with retuning, visit www.digitalready.gov.au/retune, or free call the Digital Ready Information Line on 1800 201 013.

In a win for seniors, the Government has delivered a key election commitment giving thousands more self-funded retirees access to cheaper medicine and health benefits.

“Despite repeated attempts by Labor and the Greens to block it, legislation to index income thresholds for the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card has passed Parliament,” Member for Bonner, Ross Vasta, said today.

Mr Vasta said this means up to 27,000 additional people will qualify for the Card over the next four years, on top of the 290,000 current cardholders, which includes 1975 cardholders in Bonner.

“The Government recognises that by looking after their own retirement needs, self-funded retirees save the nation considerable pension costs,” Mr Vasta said.

“The current income thresholds for the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card are $50,000 for singles and $80,000 for couples combined; however, with no indexation since 2001, income thresholds for the Card have not kept pace with living costs.”

“That’s why we took to the election a commitment to index the income thresholds for the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card.”

Mr Vasta said seniors and representative organisations had been calling for the change for years, and that the Government had listened – unlike Labor and the Greens.

“This measure fulfills a vital election promise and demonstrates the Government’s ongoing commitment to long-term, meaningful reform for Australian seniors,” Mr Vasta said.

Annual indexation of the income thresholds in line with the Consumer Price Index will begin from 20 September 2014.

Member for Bonner, Ross Vasta, said he was delighted that seven students from his electorate were named as winners of the Australian Student Prize.

The Bonner recipients were just some of the top 500 senior secondary school students across the country to have taken home prizes valued at $2,000 each.

The Australian Student Prize recognises academic excellence and achievement of students in senior secondary years, with this year’s winners being rewarded for their work during the 2013 school year.

Mr Vasta said he was proud that the electorate of Bonner was home to such exceptional students.

“These awards are an ideal way to recognise the wonderful work that senior school students do, and I’m delighted that we have seven winners based in the Bonner electorate,” Mr Vasta said.

“I’m sure I speak for the entire Bonner community when I offer my warmest congratulations to our deserving students.”

Minister for Education the Hon Christopher Pyne MP said the awards highlight the Government’s commitment to giving Australian students the best possible education.

“If our young people are to compete and succeed in the globalised new jobs economy we need to ensure they have the best education possible,” Mr Pyne said.

“These awards are particularly important as they recognise students who work hard and perform at their very best at a time when they are making crucial decisions about their next move into the workforce or further study.

“This Government is backing our students with more funding for schools and by spreading the opportunity of a higher education to more students across Australia.”

This year, prize winners include 23 students who won medals as part of Australia’s team in the International Mathematics and Informatics and Science Olympiads, as well as 29 graduates of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program who achieved the programme’s highest score of 45.

Nominees for the Australian Student Prize are put forward by state and territory curriculum, assessment and certification authorities.

Allocation of prizes between the states and territories is calculated on their relative share of the Year 12 population, based on enrolment data from the previous year.

The Australian Student Prize has been awarded nationally since 1991.

A list of 2013 Australian Student Prize Winners is available at: http://education.gov.au/australian-student-prize.

Member for Bonner, Ross Vasta, is today encouraging local schools to get involved in National Literacy and Numeracy Week, which runs from 25 to 31 August.

“National Literacy and Numeracy Week aims to celebrate learning and raise awareness of the importance of reading, writing and maths skills. I encourage all schools in our community to get involved,” Mr Vasta said.

The literacy activities this year are A Poem in Your Pocket and Read for Australia. The numeracy activity is Reach for the Stars.

–           A Poem in Your Pocket invites students to write a poem in any form they choose and share it with their friends, classmates, family and communities.

–           Read for Australia will provide all schools with the chance to participate in a simultaneous reading of the book Sunday Chutney by Aaron Blabey at 2pm, Friday 29 August.

–           The numeracy activity Reach for the Stars has the theme drinking water. Students will identify, count and measure the sources of water in their community.

Mr Vasta also encouraged families in Bonner to get involved in National Literacy and Numeracy Week.

“The Government understands the important influence parents have on their children’s education, and I invite them to join in to celebrate literacy and numeracy,” Mr Vasta said.

Schools can also enter a draw to win great prizes by completing a short survey, available on the Literacy and Numeracy website, once they have completed all their activities.

National Literacy and Numeracy Week is part of the Australian Government’s Students First approach, focussing on four key areas that will make a difference to students:

–           Teacher quality

–           School autonomy

–           Parental engagement

–           Strengthening the curriculum.

Local schools and families wanting to get involved in National Literacy and Numeracy Week can access more information and a large range of free online resources at www.literacyandnumeracy.gov.au.