Andrew Wallace (Fisher, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I give a big shout-out to the students up in the gallery at the moment. Tomorrow is the International Day of People with Disability. The theme for this year is: promoting the participation of persons with disabilities and their leadership. It's a reminder of the leaders that we all have in our community who inspire us with their achievements through adversity. I want to speak about three in particular today.

In October, my community came together to celebrate three young people who have overcome their intellectual disabilities to achieve fantastic sporting successes. From 12 October to 19 October, Brisbane hosted the 5th INAS Global Games. Athletes who take part in these games live with intellectual disability, Down Syndrome or autism. Across the week, around 1,000 athletes from 47 countries competed in 10 events. Australia has a terrific record of success at these games. The Australian team had finished top of the medal table at three of the previous four INAS Global Games. Hosting the event this year, our team was determined to maintain that record of success and, in total, Australia sent an incredible 164 athletes and 64 staff. I had the privilege, alongside my colleague, the member for Fairfax, to present three of these athletes from the Sunshine Coast with their green and gold uniforms: swimmers Liam Schluter, Liam Bailey-Rose and my own daughter Sarah Wallace. A fourth athlete from our region, cyclist Nathan Glarvey, also proudly competed for the first time.

The fact that four athletes from the Sunshine Coast represented Australia at these global games is not simply a testament to our local sporting excellence and the unbeatable outdoor lifestyle but is a reflection of the care and support that our community gives to everyone who lives on the coast to help them to achieve their dreams and to thrive as leaders among their peers. Simply by pulling on the green and gold uniforms and giving their all in representing this country, all of our athletes did our community very proudly. For Liam Bailey-Rose and for Sarah Wallace, this was their first time officially representing Australia in international competition and, though determined to do their best, their expectations were modest.

I'm very pleased to report to the House, however, that all of our local swimmers smashed their expectations and showed the very best of what the Sunshine Coast can do. International swimming meets are incredibly tough, and all three were competing in multiple events. Though fatigued and facing tough competition from all over the world, all three of the Sunshine Coast swimmers brought home medals for Australia. Liam Schluter, a veteran of international competition, led the way with gold and a new world record in the men's 1,500 metre freestyle in the II1 category. He won gold in the men's 200 metre freestyle, gold in the men's 400 metre freestyle and more golds in the men's four-by-200, four-by-100 and four-by-50 freestyle relays, setting records in almost every event. Liam also took home silver medals in the men's 100 metre freestyle, men's 100 metre butterfly, men's 200 metre medley and the four-by-100 metre mixed freestyle relay.

Liam Bailey-Rose absolutely did a sensational job. He exceeded all of his own expectations, with no fewer than four gold medals and three bronze medals. He won gold in the II3 category, the men's 50 metre and 100 metre butterfly, the men's 100 metre and 50 metre backstroke, and bronze in the men's 50 metre freestyle, men's 200 metre individual medley and men's 100 metre breaststroke. Sarah Wallace, after a gruelling week of events, broke through on the last day to take a hard fought bronze in her favourite event, the II category women's 50 metre breaststroke. In total, Australia ended the competition with 33 gold, 32 silver and 37 bronze medals.

I know firsthand how much work, resilience and commitment it takes for these athletes to reach this standard and compete on the world stage. Whether it be at the 2019 Rugby World Cup, the 2020 Tokyo Olympics or Paralympics or the INAS Global Games, every Australian who wears the green and gold uniform becomes a local hero and a leader for our community to be very proud of. As we approach International Day of People with Disability, on behalf of all our constituents I say thank you for these athlete's contribution to our community.

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