Labor has embarrassingly claimed credit for the Northern Beaches Hospital in their latest video. I welcome Labor using the hospital in all of their advertising; in fact they should use it more often. The hospital just shows what the Liberals are able to achieve in Government. We are investing in schools, healthcare, transport, infrastructure and childcare – and we can only do these things because of a strong economy.

Only under the Liberals major projects such as the Northern Beaches Hospital and the Beaches Link Tunnel can be delivered.

The Liberal Government is further strengthening environmental protection of Australia’s marine parks with a $5 million fund to improve conservation and encourage sustainable fishing practices.

Our Marine Park Grants build on the Coalition’s world-leading management plans implemented last year, which delivered new levels of protection for 3.2 million square kilometres of pristine marine areas.

The program, part of the $35 million Fisheries Assistance and User Engagement Package, will support industries and communities transition their operations under the new arrangements.

Jason Falinski encouraged eligible groups and individuals in the Beaches to apply for assistance through the grants program.

“It’s important that we continue to build on the work to preserve our unique marine areas in the Beaches and ensure they remain in a pristine state for future generations,” Mr Falinski said.

The Liberal Government will provide $54.5 million for research that will give new hope and support to the more than 120,000 Australian children and adults, including many in the Beaches living with type 1 diabetes.

Jason Falinski said the funding is provided through the Government’s landmark Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF).

“Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) Australia will receive $25 million to advance its Type 1 Diabetes Clinical Research Network.” Mr Falinski said.

“An additional $4.5 million in funding will be provided to JDRF Australia over three years to further assist with the strategic vision and national leadership of the research network”.

Minister for Health, Greg Hunt said an initial investment of $25 million will also be dedicated to broader diabetes research under the $125 million MRFF Targeted Translation Research Accelerator initiative, to help progress early stage health and medical research discoveries to reach proof-of-concept and progress to clinical trials. Projects will be funded following an open and competitive grant round.

Every asylum seeker child has now been removed from Nauru or has had their claim processed and has a clear path off the island, Jason Falinski announced today.

The Liberal Government's strong border protection policies mean we’ve been able to stop the boats and work through the backlog of cases Labor created when 50,000 people arrived on 800 boats on their watch.

Mr Falinski said he was proud that have every child that the Rudd/Gillard/Rudd Government's had put in detention were now resettled. 

"Under Labor we saw 50,000 people arrive on 800 boats, tragically, 1,200 people drown at sea.

"Because of Labors policy, 8,000 children were among the 50,000 asylum seekers that were placed in 17 detention centres created by Labor.

"We have closed those detention centres and today, I'm proud to say that no children will be in held in any detention centre," Mr Falinski said.  

The Liberal Government continues to back small business by increasing the instant asset write-off threshold from $20,000 to $25,000, effective immediately, and extending the initiative for another year.

The instant asset write-off will enable 50,281 small businesses in the Beaches with an annual turnover of less than $10 million to access the new $25,000 incentive from now until 30 June 2020.

Jason Falinski said the Government will introduce legislation to give effect to this measure when Parliament returns next month.

“The Liberal Government understands that when business owners are able to keep more of their own money, they are able to invest back into the business, boost productivity, grow the economy and create new and local jobs,” Mr Falinski said.

“The increase and extension of the instant asset write-off builds on our Government’s record of backing small and medium businesses and the approximately seven million Australians they employ.”

“Backing small business is part of our plan for a stronger economy to help them reach their potential and create even more jobs,” Mr Falinski said.  

Jason Falinski said students in the Beaches would benefit from a record $92.8 billion in Morrison Government funding for schools in NSW and an agreed national commitment to improve student outcomes.

Jason Falinski said every state and territory had signed on to the Morrison Government’s National School Reform Agreement which will unlock record funding for schools in the Beaches.

“The Morrison Government will provide a record $92.8 billion in recurrent funding to schools in NSW from 2018 to 2029,” Jason Falinski said.

“Our record funding will flow to state schools, Catholic schools and Independent schools in our community and the Morrison Government can pay for this record school funding because we are keeping the economy strong.

Jason Falinski has wished every local student ‘good luck for 2019’ as the first students head back to school Today.

The first day of class in 2019 for state school students in the Beaches is Tuesday. Non-government school students should check the first day date with their school.

Jason Falinski encouraged every student to make the most of their opportunity to get an education.

“A good education is an incredible gift and I encourage every student who gets that opportunity to seize it with both hands,” Jason Falinski said. “Every child deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential, to learn, to be curious, to be supported, and to enjoy school.

Hundreds of families across Australia will save close to $90,000 each year from a $96 million investment our Government is making to ensure lung cancer medicine is affordable.

Member for Mackellar Jason Falinski said help is on the way for around 400 patients diagnosed with lung cancer with our Government listing Tagrisso® (Osimertinib) on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) from 1 February.

“Patients would pay close to $8,000 per script or almost $88,000 per year for this treatment without subsidised access through the PBS,” Mr Falinski said.

“Thanks to our investment, the price drops to just $40.30 per script, or $6.50 for concessional patients.”

“We can fund life-saving medicines like this because we’re delivering on our plan for a stronger economy and bringing the Budget back to balance.”

Thousands of Northern Beaches residents are being asked to take new online Life Checks, as the Liberal Government continues rolling out its More Choices For A Longer Life measures, to support local people to live longer, better lives.

“Life Checks are about empowering people to make the best choices for their future,” Mr Falinski said.

“Taking a Life Check gives you a clearer picture of how you’re currently tracking and helps you prepare for the next stage of life.

“This is one of the best New Year’s resolutions you can make in 2019 and it’s something to tell you friends about, because spending a few minutes taking a Life Check could make a lifetime of difference.”

The Liberal Government has announced up to $315,000 in grant funding to make conferences more accessible for people with disability. The National Disability Conference Initiative grants assist eligible conference organisers to include people with disability at nationally-focussed, disability-related conferences in Australia.

Mr Falinski said the grant funding will help to assist people with disability, their families and carers to attend conferences.

“Grants of up to $10,000 are available to organisations to help people with disability participate in disability-related conferences from 1 July 2019 to 30 June 2020,” Mr Falinski said.