Angus Taylor (Hume, Liberal Party, Shadow Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This October I joined Wandering Warriors for Pollie Pedal 2024, cycling over a thousand kilometres for eight days across New South Wales—from Gosford through the Hunter Valley to Tamworth and Armidale and then down the escarpment to Port Macquarie. Since the event's inception by former Prime Minister Tony Abbott in 1998, Pollie Pedal has covered over 25,000 kilometres and raised around $7 million for charities dedicated to a range of things, including supporting our veterans.

This year we raised just over a quarter of a million dollars for the Wandering Warriors. It's a remarkable organisation dedicated to providing life-changing support and opportunities for our special forces veterans and their families. By raising funds, we're not only honouring the service of these courageous men and women but also supporting programs that offer mental health support, employment assistance and, most importantly, educational support—critical resources that allow our veterans and their families to build fulfilling lives after service.

Every year it's a privilege to be part of Pollie Pedal. Not only is it fantastic to be on the road with current and former parliamentary colleagues and some of our former special forces veterans, but it's also great to meet people right across this country, from all walks of life, and see the wonderful work they're doing. Thank you so much to everyone who sponsored us. Twenty-six years on, this fantastic initiative continues to make a real difference to the lives of Australians.