In April, I had a very brave lady by the name of Miriam Sesay come into my office and tell me a very disturbing story about local youths who had abused and ridiculed her because of her racial origins on not one but two occasions.

Miriam came to Australia as a political refugee in 2004 from Liberia in West Africa, after experiencing a life filled with frightening conflict. Miriam thought that she had left, as she described it, ‘all the darkness behind,’ when she came to Australia. It is a basic human right not a privilege to walk down the street regardless of your colour and background without being harassed and racially vilified.

In response to Miriam’s experiences, I picked up the phone to my good friend and colleague Michael Keenan, the shadow minister for justice, customs and border protection, and asked him to come to Bonner and meet with my constituents at a crime forum to discuss Miriam’s experiences. The forum provided a great opportunity for locals to raise concerns about crime and safety. It was also an opportunity for all levels of government, police and community leaders, schools, small business owners and residents to discuss future crime prevention strategies.

Residents raised concerns about the damaging effects of the spate of recent bikie gang violence in Queensland and the recent flood of illegal weapons and drugs that have hit our streets. Concerns have been raised about light sentencing by courts after police had done the hard work, taking criminals off the streets. Reduced Customs inspections of cargo under the Labor government has increased the risk of organised crime gangs importing guns and drugs. Many constituents afterwards told me that they were heartened to hear that a future coalition government would strengthen our borders to reduce the flow of guns and drugs to local communities.

I want to thank the member for Stirling for caring about the people of Bonner, to come and hear firsthand the issues that individuals, families and community groups are concerned about.

The crime forum would not have been possible without community attendance and I thank all the Bonner constituents who have an active interest in the ongoing safety of our local community and for attending this forum to listen to others and, most importantly, to make their voice heard.

My thanks also extend to the Superintendent Jim Keogh, a member for the crime forum panel, for his insightful and honest advice on the day; the Wynnum RSL, who hosted this most important community event; and, in particular, Mr Reg O’Malley, the president of the Wynnum RSL, and Jessica Walmsley, the functions coordinator of the Wynnum RSL.

For a copy of the Official Hansard please click here.

“Two For the Road”  is a series of fantastic concert programs featuring a duo of Brisbane’s most respected and loved entertainers.

The Free Concert Series is a initiative of the Brisbane City Council and will be appearing in Wynnum on June 4 at the Wynnum RSL.

New figures have confirmed that Bonner businesses and community organisations are dealing with more red tape than ever before, says Ross Vasta, Federal Member for Bonner.

Since the start of 2008, 18,089 additional regulations have been created by the Rudd/Gillard Government, including 1,311 new regulations this year.

“When I talk with shop owners, small business operators, and community and volunteer groups, I am continually told that red tape is getting worse”, said Ross Vasta.

“Red tape is growing and it is choking the life out of local businesses and community groups”

“It is already a difficult time for small business, with retail shops struggling, flat sales, low confidence and a carbon tax only weeks away – and the avalanche of red tape is making it worse.

“18,000 new regulations in just over four and a half years equates to 11 new regulations every day.

“Labor promised when they were elected they would introduce ‘one in, one out”, meaning that new regulations would be matched by repealing others.  Instead, since 2007, 18,000 regulations have been added and only 86 regulations have been repealed.”

Ross Vasta said the Productivity Commission had estimated that the rewards for Australia to cut red tape could be worth up to $12 billion a year.

“The Coalition has established a Deregulation Taskforce, under the leadership of respected Senator Arthur Sinodinos AO, and it will cut red tape by $1 billion a year.

“Areas of red tape already identified include scrapping the carbon tax, simplifying the administration of compulsory employee superannuation contributions; and moving the administration of the national paid parental leave scheme from small businesses to the government’s Family Assistance Office.

Ross Vasta invited local businesses and community groups to contact his office at ross.vasta.mp@aph.gov.au to provide details of red tape that the Coalition’s Deregulation Taskforce should consider cutting.

Ross Vasta is delighted to congratulate Mr Daniel Byrne of Manly West, Mr Karl Domjahn of Wishart and Miss Karla Mayfield of Carindale who are recipients of the 2011 Australian Students Prize in the Bonner community.

“The Australian Student Prize is a highly prestigious inaugural award programme that began in 1991 and only 500 prizes are awarded each year,” Ross Vasta said.  

 “Receiving this award means you are being recognised nationally for academic excellence and this deserves the highest praise.

“Prize winners also are awarded $2,000 to assist them to pursue their future aspirations. 

 “I look would like to personally congratulate Karl, Daniel and Karla on their great achievement as it is a true testament to their many years of handwork and dedication,” Ross Vasta said. 

I will be hosting a Seniors Forum with Special Guest, the Hon. Brownyn Bishop, Shadow Minister for Seniors and Shadow Special Minister of State in June.

The Community Forum will provide an avenue for you to discuss issues of concern in the Seniors sector with the Shadow Minister and myself.

Where: Belmont Services Bowls Club    
Time: 10am for 10.15am start
When: Thursday 7 June 2012

RSVP Essential by COB Monday June 4 to erin.mcaliece@aph.gov.au or by phoning (07) 3893 3488.

I look forward to seeing you there.

Support your Local Chaplains on Saturday 26 May by forming a team for the Battle of the Schools Trivia Night.

Teams of six are encouraged to register before Friday 25 May on 0408 457 931 or 3396 7444. Pay at the door and just $10 per person.

Where: The Chapel, 161 Preston Road Manly West
When: Doors open 6.30pm for Trivia to start at 7pm

A light supper will be provided and soft drinks will be available to purchase with a lucky door prize on the night.

Sponsored by Wynnum /Manly Chaplaincy Committee.

History Alive is a unique timeline event, with re-enactment and living history groups from the Roman Legions through to the Vietnam Era and everything in-between. Our main arena plays host to 14th century tournaments and Military displays. Everyone is welcome to check out the living history encampments where you’ll see knights and ladies next to roman legionaries and WW2 soldiers alongside Napoleons men. We also have a range of other activities provided by local and regional history groups. So come, and immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of times gone past in one of Brisbane’s best kept secrets.

When – From 10am on the 9th and 10th June 2012
Where –  Fort Lytton National Park

For more information please click here.

Brisbane City Council ratepayers stand to suffer yet another hit from the carbon tax, Ross Vasta, Federal Member for Bonner said today.

Clean Energy Regulator or ‘Carbon Cop’ officials have told Senate Estimates that, on top of those ten councils* recently named on a list of 248 entities expected to be liable to pay the carbon tax, they have written to a further 104 councils that might also be hit.

Among these 104 additional councils is Brisbane City Council.

The Regulator’s Chair and CEO, Chloe Munro, told Senate Estimates that their ‘best guess’ is that, of these additional 104 local governments, about 70 will actually be liable to the carbon tax.

“All Australians will be hit with the carbon tax, particularly as a result of electricity and gas price hikes that will flow on to push up the cost of everything,” Ross Vasta said today.

“We now know that ratepayers in Brisbane City Council could be among the many, many thousands of Australians who will also be hit indirectly as ratepayers of councils subject to the carbon tax, simply because they own or use a dump or landfill facility.

“It seems remarkable that local councils around Australia could account for around 20 per cent of those entities directly liable to pay Labor’s carbon tax.

“Labor is adding the world’s biggest carbon tax to the world’s highest electricity prices.

“The Gillard Government’s carbon tax will also mean local councils have to lift their own fees and charges, raise their council rates, cut services or some combination of these hits, all of which mean more pain for Australians at the local level.”

Ross Vasta said only the Coalition will make scrapping the carbon tax the first order of business by a Coalition Government.

“The Coalition has demonstrated it has a strong plan for economic growth and it starts with scrapping the carbon tax.”

“National Families Week is a great opportunity to reflect on the importance of all families in Bonner,” said Ross Vasta, Federal Member for Bonner today.

National Families Week will be held from Tuesday, 15 May to Monday, 21 May 2012 and will coincide with International Families Day on Tuesday, 15 May 2012.

“Wayne Swan, in last week’s Budget did little to help Australian families who are doing it tough under the Labor government”.

“Families right across Bonner are footing the bill for Labor’s reckless spending and financial mismanagement as Labor freezes family payments to generate savings.”

“Families in Bonner are struggling with cost of living pressures and are about to be hit hard by the world’s biggest carbon tax,” Ross Vasta said.

Since 2007, on average, the price of power has increased by 51%, water is up 46%, gas has increased 30%, health costs are up 20% and grocery prices have increased by 14%.

“With these additional costs, it is no surprise Australian families are finding it hard to survive under Labor.”

“Families in Bonner deserve better,” Ross Vasta said today.

“Instead local households will get hit by the world’s biggest carbon tax.”

The Coalition is committed to a stronger Australia where families can build a better life for themselves through reducing cost of living pressures while ensuring better access to child care, education, and health services.

Federal Member for Bonner, Ross Vasta said the Federal Budget offered little or nothing for small businesses in Bonner about to be whacked by the world’s biggest carbon tax.

“The Gillard Government has shown that its got no feel for small business, offering nothing new in the budget  to provide immediate relief to struggling businesses with the sector seeing a 48 per cent increase in insolvencies,” Ross Vasta said.

“First the Gillard Government broke its promise not to introduce a carbon tax, now it’s broken its promise to cut the company tax rate.

“Carbon tax-related ‘sweeteners’ in the form of accelerated depreciation allowances rely on small businesses having the ready cash to spend on new capital items.

“The Gillard Government’s abolition of the Entrepreneurs Tax Offset has increased tax for nearly 370,000 of our smallest businesses, including micro, home-based, independent contractor and start-up businesses, with incomes of less than $75,000.

Ross Vasta said the Institute of Chartered Accountants rightly identifies that 80 per cent of all small businesses have no prospect of gaining any benefit from ‘loss carry back’ as they are not structured as corporations and fewer still could satisfy the complicated eligibility criteria under current trading conditions.

“The local corner shop in Bonner  is not only going to have to deal with an increase in costs for supplies and electricity, it’s also going to have pressure from consumers looking for a bargain as cost of living pressures increase and unemployment rises as forecasted in the Budget,” Ross Vasta said.

“The greatest insult from the Gillard Government is the toxic carbon tax. Small business will be hit the hardest because their costs will go up and up and up as the carbon price goes up and up and up, and they won’t receive a single cent in compensation.”

Ross Vasta said the Coalition had a clear road map to restore hope, reward and opportunity for small business by scrapping the carbon tax and getting out of the way of business by slashing $1 billion worth of red tape.