Deborah O'Neill (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

This is a most unusual topic for me to make a contribution on. I played netball for two seasons, and I broke my finger twice. It got in the way of school for me, so I thought I'd definitely give up netball and pay attention at school because that was a much happier place for me. I'm not a sportsperson, unlike Senator McKenzie, but the way in which sport lifts the spirit and the way in which female Australian athletes in the last little while have absolutely shown us how remarkable they are on the world stage is something to be truly, truly celebrated.

In this place where there is so much contest in ideas and sometimes there can be an impression of division, it is really important for me to stand and associate myself with the remarks of Senator McKenzie on this fine occasion. It's a celebration of not just skill in sport but of the personal endeavour of people to go out and develop their capacity, of their families who backed them to make that happen and of the community volunteers who were there setting up things on the weekends so that these amazing Australian women could get prepared for what became their international performance of which the entire country is proud. I thank the chamber very much for the opportunity to make a contribution to the acknowledgement of the Diamonds and their great success today. I seek leave to continue my remarks later.

Leave granted; debate adjourned.