The Turnbull Government has announced in the 2018-19 Budget the listing of a life-changing breast cancer medicine on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme that would otherwise cost patients around $71,820 per year.

Federal Member for Bonner, Ross Vasta, who today attended a Breast Cancer Australia afternoon tea held for women undergoing treatment for breast cancer, welcomed the announcement.

Mr Vasta said the Government’s $703.6 million investment will mean more than 3,000 Australian patients with inoperable or metastatic hormone receptor positive breast cancer will benefit from the 1 July 2018 listing of ribociclib (Kisqali®).

“Hormone receptor positive tumours are the most common form of breast cancer and account for most of the deaths from the disease,” Mr Vasta said.

Minister for Health Greg Hunt, who also attended the Breast Cancer Australia afternoon tea, said by inhibiting two proteins that drive the growth of tumour cells, ribociclib—used in combination with other drugs—will slow the progression of inoperable and metastatic breast cancers in some patients.

Mt Gravatt local Dr David Hunt welcomed the Government’s decision.

“As someone who's lost their mother to breast cancer, I think this Budget decision is close to the heart of many families in our nation,” Dr Hunt said.

“I applaud the Government on this decision. I believe it will help many women overcome this disease in Australia.”

The independent Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) recommended the listing of Kisqali.

The Committee is, by law and in practice, independent of Government in its deliberations.  By law the Federal Government cannot list a new medicine without a positive recommendation from this committee.

Mr Vasta said since coming into Government, the Coalition has helped improve the health of Australians by subsidising approximately $9 billion worth of new medicines.

Minister for Health Greg Hunt said the Government’s commitment to the PBS is rock solid. 

“Together with Medicare, it is a foundation of our world-class health care system,” Minister Hunt said.

Lytton company Advanced Robotic Technology (ART) is one of the successful recipients of a grant provided under the Accelerating Commercialisation element of the Australian Government’s Entrepreneurs’ Programme, Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta said today.

ART has developed an advanced robotic structural steel processing system that has the potential to help Australian firms better compete with cheap imported fabricators through lower costs, quicker turnaround and superior accuracy.

Director of ART David White said the grant funding would enable the company to transition from R&D to a production product.

“This grant will help us cover the costs of building and installing a prototype system here at our Brisbane facility,” Mr White said.

“It will also help us complete and transport a display model they we can use for real-world demonstrations in Australia and overseas. This will help us generate leads with companies that are crying out for this kind of product, because we’ll be able to actively demonstrate the efficiency of this system in an industry neutral environment.”

Mr Vasta, who today visited ART with Minister for Jobs and Innovation, Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash, said it was great to see a local company receiving government support to develop and build world-class technology.

“This is a world-leading product that will boost productivity and allow workers to move up to higher-skilled jobs,” Mr Vasta said.

Minister Cash said she was pleased to be visiting ART to see how the Government’s funding will assist them to take their ideas to the market.

“The Entrepreneurs’ Programme supports businesses to develop and commercialise ideas that will improve business capability and competitiveness, promote economic growth and create jobs,” Minister Cash said.

Mr White said the government’s support had been invaluable for ART to develop the technology.

“Without the R&D Tax Incentive Scheme, it would not have been viable for us to invest the necessary funds that have been required to develop this level of technology. It’s been pivotal to help us recoup costs, which has in turn encouraged further development,” Mr White said.

“The assistance available through schemes like the Entrepreneurs’ Programme and the R&D Tax Incentive provides a high level of confidence that the Government is backing Australian innovation.”

More information on Accelerating Commercialisation: https://www.business.gov.au/assistance/entrepreneurs-programme/accelerating-commercialisation

More information on the R&D Tax Incentive: https://www.business.gov.au/assistance/research-and-development-tax-incentive

Senior residents in Bonner and their families will benefit from significant aged care quality reforms announced by the Turnbull Government.

At the heart of these reforms, aged care regulation, compliance and complaints handing will be brought together in a new and independent Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission.

A new performance rating system against the quality standards will also be introduced providing Bonner residents with access to a comparison tool when selecting aged care providers. This will ensure senior Australians and their families have clear, concise information when choosing aged care options is also critical.

Federal Member for Bonner, Ross Vasta, welcomed the reforms and said they would bring Bonner residents much needed reassurance that everyone receiving aged care is being looked after properly.

“When I speak to people in the community, like residents I visited at Janoah Gardens today, their desire for reform in the aged care sector has been made very clear. They have been urging the Government to make the hard decisions and I’ve been advocating in Canberra on their behalf,” Mr Vasta said.

“This announcement is a significant reform in raising the bar on quality aged care, and sends a strong message to Australians that quality aged care is a top priority for the Turnbull Government.”

Minister for Aged Care, Ken Wyatt, said the reforms would bring confidence to older Australians and their families in deciding on aged care options.

“The new independent Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission will give the more than 1.3 million Australians in Commonwealth aged care support and their families peace of mind that they will receive safe, quality care,” Minister Wyatt said.

The establishment of the Commission is in response to the Carnell-Paterson review into failures at South Australia’s Oakden Older Persons Mental Health Service. The Review, commissioned by the Turnbull Government, found the current aged care regulatory framework does not adequately provide the assurance the community expects.  

The new Commission will start from 1 January 2019 and will bring together the functions of the Australian Aged Care Quality Agency, the Aged Care Complaints Commissioner, and the aged care regulatory functions of the Department of Health. 

The reforms will include development options, in consultation with the aged care sector, for a Serious Incident Response Scheme to ensure the right systems are in place to identify an incident and prevent it from occurring again.

“We recognise that the vast majority of providers give consistent, quality care to their residents. But, as we have seen, there can be failures. We must ensure that disasters like Oakden are never repeated,” Minister Wyatt said.

“Our senior Australians built the nation that we enjoy today. They have rightly earned the respect of the community and must be cared for with the dignity they deserve.”

Federal Minister for Urban Infrastructure and Cities Paul Fletcher today joined Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta to inspect the intersection of Newnham Road and Wecker Road at Mt Gravatt East.

Mr Vasta recently launched a community petition to fix the intersection that has already gathered hundreds of signatures.

“This is a terrible intersection that needs to be fixed. That’s why I’ve got the Minister here today to see first-hand how dangerous it is here,” Mr Vasta said.

“I’d like to see the Federal Government working with Brisbane City Council to fix this intersection and make sure commuters can travel safely to Bunnings, to the school, or elsewhere in our community.

“I’m fighting hard to ensure this intersection will no longer be a death trap.”

Minister Fletcher said he was pleased to have the chance to visit the intersection with Mr Vasta today and learn more about its congestion problems and accident history.

“There are a number of federal programs under which an upgrade to this intersection could potentially receive funding, including the Black Spot Program and our new $1 billion Urban Congestion Fund,” Minister Fletcher said.

“These are competitive funding programs but I know Ross will be working hard to make the best possible case. I look forward to working with Ross as he does this.”

More information on the Urban Congestion Fund is available at: https://www.pm.gov.au/media/new-fund-bust-congestion-urban-areas

Federal Minister for Urban Infrastructure and Cities Paul Fletcher today joined Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta to inspect the Lindum Station Crossing at Wynnum West.

Mr Vasta’s community petition to fix the crossing has gathered almost 5000 signatures.

“This is a terrible level crossing that needs to be fixed. That’s why I’ve got the Minister here today to see first-hand how dangerous it is here,” Mr Vasta said.

“I’m fighting very hard to make sure this crossing is fixed as soon as possible. I want to make sure people can get to and from work on time, and that parents can drop off and pick up their children at the school zone safely.”

Minister Fletcher said he was pleased to have the chance to visit the crossing with Mr Vasta today and learn more about its congestion problems and accident history.

“There are a number of federal programs under which an upgrade to this crossing could potentially receive funding, including the Black Spot Program and our new $1 billion Urban Congestion Fund,” Minister Fletcher said.

“These are competitive funding programs but I know Ross will be working hard to make the best possible case. I look forward to working with Ross as he does this.”

More information on the Urban Congestion Fund is available at: https://www.pm.gov.au/media/new-fund-bust-congestion-urban-areas

Member for Bonner, Ross Vasta MP today invited locals in his electorate to celebrate National Families Week and honour the central role that families play in our lives and our communities.

National Families Week runs from 15 to 21 May and has the theme ‘Stronger Families, Stronger Communities’. The United Nations International Day of Families is also on 15 May.

Mr Vasta said the week allowed people to reflect on the families who supported Australian children to grow up happy, healthy and strong.

“Families play such an important and central role in our community,” Mr Vasta said.

“National Families Week is a great opportunity to come out and help celebrate your family, your neighbours’ family and all the families who contribute so much to this country.

“I’m pleased to see the Turnbull Coalition Government is providing over $117 billion to support Australian families this financial year.

“We provided a further $652 million in 2017–18 under the Families and Communities program, which includes children and parenting support, settlement grants and emergency relief.

“We invest significantly in programs that support children and families, including parenting programs and family relationship services.”

This week, more than 100,000 people will participate in National Families Week events around the country. To find an event near you, visit https://nfw.org.au/find-an-event/.

Further information on the Turnbull Coalition Government’s Budget commitments for families can be found at https://www.budget.gov.au/2018-19/content/families.html.

The Coalition Government has committed an additional $22.5 million in Budget 2018-19 to continue the highly successful Stronger Communities Programme (SCP).

Federal Member for Bonner, Ross Vasta, said the fourth round of the program would ensure funding was available for a range of important community infrastructure projects such as sporting facilities and community halls.

“Bonner has been very successful under previous rounds of the Stronger Communities Programme,” Mr Vasta said.

“In the first three rounds of the Stronger Communities Programme, I have been proud to secure $397,028 in Stronger Communities grants for 35 community groups—including school P&Cs, sports clubs, environmental groups, men’s sheds, and community kindergartens—in my electorate.”

Mr Vasta said the additional investment for a fourth round of SCP would ensure that local decision-making continues to play a decisive role in funding community building projects. He encouraged local community groups to start 

“The Coalition Government will fund up to 50 per cent of costs for successful projects from a pool of $150,000 in each electorate, delivering more than 1,000 further projects in this round.

“Grants will be available between $2,500 and $20,000 for successful applications and I will soon invite organisations within the community to put forward their high-quality projects for assessment.”

“This Budget continues the Coalition Government’s commitment to building strong communities with extensions to vital community grants programs that invest directly in economic and social infrastructure,” Mr Vasta said.

Successful Round 3 Stronger Communities projects included: 

For more information on the Stronger Communities Programme visit: http://regional.gov.au/regional/programs/stronger-communities.aspx or call 3893 3488.

The Brisbane Small Business Expo held in Mt Gravatt today was a huge success, with over 1000 people attending, and over 230 exhibitors showcasing small businesses from across the Brisbane, Gold Coast, and Logan regions.

Federal Member for Bonner, Ross Vasta, who attended with Minister for Small Business the Hon Craig Laundy, said he was proud to have helped bring the Expo to Brisbane for the first time in its seven year history.

“It’s great to have an event like this in Bonner that recognises the outstanding contribution small businesses make to our community, and gives them the opportunity to network and learn other ways to bolster their business,” Mr Vasta said.

“I’m glad to have the Small Business Minister here with me to chat with hard-working small business owners and hear their thoughts on the recent Budget.”

Organiser Paula Brand from Small Business Expos said the event wouldn’t have been possible without Mr Vasta and thanked him for his help.

“The Expo is amazing for businesses and it’s great to have it all happening right in our own backyard,” Mrs Brand said.

Mrs Brand said she hoped to bring the Expo back to the Brisbane region next year, and thanked local businesses for their support.

More information on the Expo can be found here.