Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Families and Social Services) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Van for his question. A few weeks ago, I think, Australia felt the Olympic spirit as we watched the Olympic Games, and once again this week we feel the Olympic spirit as we watch our Paralympians compete in the Paralympic Games. It's another opportunity for us all to celebrate and unite around our incredible sporting achievements. It is so good to see the Australian team leading the medal tally already after an amazing 10 medals yesterday. Resilience, determination and strength underpin our Olympic team, and we have to understand that so many of our athletes have overcome extraordinary adversity to be in Tokyo. This, importantly, reminds us how much more can be achieved when we focus on what people's ability is instead of focusing on their disability. This year, our team in Tokyo is the largest team that we've ever sent overseas. It is second only to the Sydney 2000 team, with 178 athletes performing across 18 sports. The Aussies have always finished in the top five, and I can see no reason why that won't happen again this time.

To the whole team: we are watching you. We're cheering you on. You are an inspiration to us all, but you are a special inspiration to Australians who live with disability. So big congratulations to Paige Greco and Emily Petricola, for winning gold on the cycling track, and to Rowan Crothers, Ben Popham, William Martin and Lakeisha Patterson, for winning gold in the pool. Just getting to the Paralympic Games has been an extraordinary challenge given the circumstances we find ourselves in and the challenges of COVID to compete on the world stage. I hope everybody in Tokyo reaches whatever goal they sought to go there for, whether it's a personal best, winning a gold or, in the case of my mate Dylan Alcott, hopefully achieving an extremely difficult golden grand slam. To our Paralympians: good luck. Australia is proudly watching you compete in our green and gold.