Category: Media Releases

Coalition makes rural and regional health a priority

 

The Coalition will be working to get more and better trained medical experts into rural and regional areas with its health policy announced today, Ross Vasta for Bonner said.

“We need more frontline services in Bonner, from highly skilled doctors, nurses and allied health professionals,” said Ross Vasta.

“This is a huge issue here and I particularly support the Coalition’s focus on helping busy professionals spend more time treating patients and financial assistance for students from rural and remote areas to further their studies.”

Unlike Labor which has run up enormous debt over the past six years and will have no alternative but to cut services if re-elected, the Coalition has a proven record on economic management and can deliver certainty of future investment.

The Coalition is committed to rebuilding general practice and assist them to expand their practices and provide space for teaching medical students. The Coalition will commit $52.5 million to provide at least 175 grants of up to $300,000 targeted to rural and regional areas.

The Coalition will also commit $13.4 million to provide 500 additional scholarships to a maximum of $30,000 per scholarship for nurses and allied health professionals in areas of need to undertake further study.

Another $40 million over four years will support up to 100 additional intern places in private hospitals, with priority given to positions and rotations outside major metro areas to bolster the medical workforce in rural and regional areas.

Importantly, a Federal Coalition government would work to cut administration and bureaucracy in favour of more frontline services, and work with States and Territories to support more local control of hospital services.

“I’ve always believed that hospitals can operate better at a community level than under the control of bureaucrats in Canberra,” said Ross Vasta.

The Coalition has a strong record on health. As health Minister, Tony Abbott increased funding for public hospitals from $7.49 billion in 2003 to over $9.5 billion in 2007. Just last year, the Federal Labor government cut $1.6 billion from State public hospitals.

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VASTA DELIVERS $100,000 FOR MT GRAVATT MEN’S SHED

An elected Coalition Government will invest $100,000 to upgrade facilities at the Mt Gravatt Men’s Shed, announced the Liberal National Member for Bonner, Ross Vasta MP, today.

Making the announcement with the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Julie Bishop MP this morning, Mr Vasta said he was proud to secure this investment in such a worthy local organisation. 

“I am delighted to be able to make this commitment Men’s Shed Mt Gravatt, which is an important local community organisation here on the Southside,” Mr Vasta said.

The Mt Gravatt Men’s Shed allows men to participate and interact within their community – improving health and wellbeing.   

This significant local investment will allow the Men’s Shed to build new facilities and upgrade existing infrastructure.

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BONNER FAMILIES WILL BE OVER $550 BETTER OFF BY SCRAPPING THE CARBON TAX

Families in Bonner will be an average of over $550 better off next financial year as a result of the Coalition’s plan to scrap the carbon tax said Ross Vasta, LNP Member for Bonner.

“Kevin Rudd’s carbon tax adds to the cost of living. It is a tax on electricity, it’s a tax on gas and it hurts family budgets”, said Ross Vasta.

“As the carbon tax goes up, so will families’ cost of living.

“Only the Coalition will reduce your cost of living by abolishing the carbon tax.

Ross Vasta said that on the Government’s own figures, the carbon tax will increase six-fold between mid-2014 and mid 2019 – reaching $38 a tonne by 2019 and increasing to $350 a tonne over time.

“That means if Labor is re-elected, average families will pay $3,000 in carbon tax over the next six years. 

“Only the Coalition will scrap the carbon tax lock, stock and barrel.”

“And the Coalition will also keep the current income tax thresholds and the current pension and benefit fortnightly rates while scrapping the carbon tax.

Ross Vasta said this means local workers, families and pensioners will keep the tax cuts and fortnightly pension and benefit increases provided in Labor’s carbon tax package, but without the carbon tax.

“As a result, these tax cuts and fortnightly benefit increases will become genuine cost‑of‑living relief, worth around $4 billion a year, rather than partial compensation for Labor’s damaging carbon tax hit.

This means that – based on the Government’s own figures – under the Coalition:

  • average families will be better off by more than $550 a year in 2014-15, rising to around $900 a year in 2019-20; and
  • over the next six years, average families will be $3,000 better off under the Coalition than under Kevin Rudd’s carbon tax.

 

 

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Exclusive preview of our first TV Ad of the campaign: New Hope

The Coalition has a real Plan to build a strong, prosperous economy and a safe, secure Australia.

At this election, unlike Mr Rudd & Labor, only the Coalition is offering the real hope all Australians are seeking.

Click here for your exclusive preview of our first TV Ad of the campaign: New Hope.

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ROSS VASTA SAYS ELECTION OFFERS CLEAREST CHOICE

Ross Vasta, LNP Member for Bonner said the election is a clear choice between more of the same from Labor and real change from the Coalition.

“The choice between the major parties could not be clearer”, said Ross Vasta.

“At this election, the Coalition offers strong, experienced and stable government, a stronger economy, stronger borders, a stronger Australia and a better future – for all Australians.

“Labor is offering just more of the same: more talk, more chaos, more division, more debt, more deficits and more taxes.

“Only the Coalition can form the strong, stable government to deliver a stronger economy with more jobs, real help for families and small business, lower taxes and secure borders.

“We are getting a positive response in Bonner and throughout Australia – people want a government that can deliver more jobs and a stronger economy.

Ross Vasta said the Real Solutions Plan lays down 10 clear actions that we will take which will make our country stronger and families more secure:

  1. We will build a stronger, more diverse economy with lower taxes, less waste.
  2. We will get the Budget back under control
  3. Help families get ahead by freeing them from the carbon tax
  4. Help small businesses grow by reducing business costs
  5. Build a Five-Pillar economy
  6. Generate one million new jobs over the next five years and two million new jobs within 10 years
  7. Build more modern infrastructure to get things moving
  8. Deliver better health and education services – with local communities in charge
  9. Build a 15,000-strong Green Army to clean-up the environment
  10. The boats will stop – with tough, proven measures not talk from proven boat failures.

Ross Vasta said he will be campaigning every day between now and the election on the positive choice offered by the Coalition at this election.

“It is only by voting for the Coalition that our community can get a strong voice in a better government.”

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ON TAX: DIFFERENT NAME, SAME PAIN SAYS ROSS VASTA

The re-election of the Labor government will mean that Bonner  families and small businesses will continue to pay the carbon tax.

 Ross Vasta MP for Bonner said the pre-election announcement by Labor that it proposes to change the carbon tax was just a con.

 “It doesn’t matter if you change the name, or turn the fixed price into a floating price – it is still a carbon tax.

 “There will still be a tax on electricity and gas bills – and that doesn’t change.

 “It’s a different name, same pain.

 Ross Vasta said local people will be wary of another Labor leader promising “there will be no carbon tax under the government I lead”.

 “We have to look at Mr Rudd’s record: He voted for the carbon tax and just two weeks ago increased the carbon tax.

 “According to Treasury’s own figures, a floating carbon tax will still increase, reaching $38 a tonne by 2019 and continues to go up to $350 over the coming decades.

 “And if Labor is re-elected, they have legislated to expand the carbon tax by putting it on diesel fuel for heavy trucks on 1 July next year – which means higher transportation costs and pressure on prices.

 Ross Vasta said only the Coalition offers Bonner families and businesses the certainty of no carbon tax.

 “Only the Coalition has consistently pledged to abolish the carbon tax and only the Coalition can be trusted to do it. 

The Coalition’s promise to completely scrap the carbon tax means that families will save 10 per cent on their power bills. It will also give immediate relief for local businesses, which means more money to invest in jobs and higher wages.”

 

 

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Boost Productivity and Reduce Regulation.

The Coalition has released its policy to Boost Productivity and Reduce Regulation.
 
Reducing regulation is an essential part of the Coalition’s Real Solutions Plan to grow the economy, get the Budget under control and create one million new jobs within five years. 
 
Our policy will cut $1 billion a year in red and green tape, generate more jobs and strengthen the economy.

Under Labor, 21,000 additional regulations have been added despite Kevin Rudd’s promise in 2007 to cap the growth of regulation. Labor has paid too little regard to the increased costs of regulation to the economy and to our ongoing national prosperity.
 
Small business, in particular, has carried the cost of Labor’s increasing compliance burden. 
 
Small businesses don’t have compliance departments – and nor should they.  We need common sense to prevail again.
 
Our policy will:

  • scrap Labor’s Carbon Tax which is a burden on jobs and households;
  • set aside two Parliamentary sitting days for the repeal of legislation each year;
  • link the remuneration of senior public servants to proven reductions in red tape;
  • create a unit in every department and agency responsible for cutting red tape;
  • establish a one-stop-shop for environmental approvals; and
  • transfer administration of paid parental leave from business to the Family Assistance Office.

This is a comprehensive policy to strengthen the economy by making government more efficient and businesses more productive.  You can read the full policy here.
 
Our policy is in keeping with the pledge Tony Abbott made in his 2013 Budget Reply:  to deliver careful, collegial, consultative, straightforward government that says what it means and does what it says.
   
Only the Coalition has the Plan to build a stronger Australia and a better future for all Australians.

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Coalition’s Policy to Reduce Regulation will give small business a break says Ross Vasta

Newsagents, dry cleaners, butchers, restaurants, fruit shops and small businesses across Bonner will benefit from the Coalition’s policy to reduce red and green tape says Ross Vasta, Member for Bonner.

 

“No matter where I go through Bonner small business owners and community groups tell me they are spending more time than ever complying with red tape.           

“Small business owners are expected to be the chief salesperson, the HR manager, the financial controller and the lawyer.  It’s a tough ask at the best of times, and even tougher when you are expected to comply with more and more regulation.

“Small businesses don’t have compliance departments – and nor should they.  We need common sense to prevail again.

 “Under the Rudd-Gillard Government, 21,000 additional regulations have been added despite having promised to cap the growth of regulation.

 

‘Our policy will cut $1 billion in red and green tape costs every year – that means more jobs, more productive businesses, more efficient government and less costs to consumers and taxpayers.

 

Ross Vasta said the Coalition’s policy to Boost Productivity and Reduce Regulation will shift the focus from more regulation to less. 

 

If elected, a Coalition government will undertake a range of measures to deregulate the economy. These include:

 

  • Repealing Labor’s carbon tax;
  • Setting aside two Parliamentary sitting days for the repeal of legislation each year;
  • Reporting to Parliament annually on red and green tape reduction;
  • Creating a dedicated unit within each department and agency that is charged with driving red tape reduction;
  • Linking the remuneration of senior public servants to quantified and proven reductions in red tape;
  • Establishing a one-stop-shop for environmental approvals;
  • Allowing small businesses to remit compulsory superannuation payments made on behalf of workers directly to the Australian Taxation Office;
  • Transferring administration of paid parental leave from business to the Family Assistance Office; and
  • Amending the Future of Financial Advice legislation to reduce compliance costs for small business financial advisers.

 

Ross Vasta said he recognised that all modern economies need regulation, but excessive regulation results in more costs than benefits and destroys the incentive to work, or in the case of community groups, it destroys the incentive to volunteer.  The Coalition will restore the balance.

 

“I want to make it easier for small businesses to employ people and for community groups to do their work without worrying about red tape.

 

“My message to Bonner small businesses is that the Coalition has a smart plan to cut red tape and costs and that starts with the removal of the carbon tax.

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The Green Army.

Last Week, Tony Abbott announced that a Coalition government will build a 15,000 strong Green Army and provide real and practical solutions to local environmental issues.

If elected, the Green Army will become the largest standing environmental workforce in Australia’s history and deliver hundreds of on-the-ground environmental projects each year across Australia.

The Green Army, primarily made up of young people, will clean up riverbanks, creek beds and revegetate sand dunes, as well as undertake remediation and conservation projects around Australia.

At the same time as improving the local environment, the Green Army will foster teamwork, local ownership and community spirit in our young people.  Participants will also receive training and a training wage which will be a stepping stone to more opportunities.

It should be a means for young people to gain a meaningful understanding of what it is like to be part of something bigger than themselves.

The Coalition will deliver a cleaner environment and a more sustainable future without the impost of a Carbon Tax which is causing real economic damage to our economy and the living standards of Australians.

By strengthening the economy and living within our means, the Coalition will be able to take direct action to improve the environment and reduce carbon emissions in a practical and affordable way.

Click here to read more about the Coalition’s policy to build a Green Army which is part of our Real Solutions Plan to build a strong, prosperous economy and a safe, secure Australia.

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