Peter Dutton (Dickson, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Hansard source

I join with the Prime Minister in wishing the Wheelaroos all the very best. For all of us who are now searching for something to do on a Friday night or on a Sunday when the rugby league season is over, it would be nice to have a bit of content and a couple of games to be able to watch, to get us through, maybe just to string us through to the start of the next season.

We have an incredible asset in our athletes in this country. It's a very significant part of our culture, of who we are. Regardless of what sport we're talking about, we have a lot to be proud of in this country. I want to recognise all of the players for the sacrifice they've made, but importantly all their families, who have contributed in a significant way to helping them through their lives with their disabilities—in some cases disabilities acquired later in life. For all of them there is an incredible amount of respect and support across the community.

I know that in Brisbane, but across the country, there are different organisations that are dedicated to helping kids, juniors, who have a disability into sports of every type, and that is a great thing. There are kids volunteering to train, to provide mentorship, to coach, to make sure that they run the lines and be involved in providing that support and the moral support to help those kids enjoy sport as much as any other Australian child or young adult.

I join with the Prime Minister in wishing our teams all the very best in the United Kingdom, and I'm absolutely certain they can do us proud and bring home a great deal of joy. We wish them every safe travel.

See this speech in context