Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Hansard source

This is the last parliamentary sitting day before the 21st Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast. I want to take this opportunity to wish all 70 visiting teams and their supporters from around the world an enjoyable stay in a wonderful part of Australia. I want to wish the 473 members of the Australian squad every success, whether it's on the track, in the pool, on the beach, at the velodrome or, of course, on the netball court.

The member for Lalor, who would wear the Diamonds scarf in here every day if she could, told me a great statistic about this year's games: this is the 21st Commonwealth Games, but it is the first Commonwealth Games where half the medals up for grabs can be won by women athletes. It is great news that the Gold Coast Games will include the largest para-sport program in Commonwealth history. As ever, the smooth running of this event will depend on thousands of cheerful volunteers, and I want to thank them in advance, because they are wonderful ambassadors for our nation.

Australian sport needs a good story at the moment. I know that from the moment Sally Pearson and Kurt Fearnley carry the Australian flag into the stadium to start the games, our whole country will be inspired and uplifted. Good luck and go Aussies.

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