Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

Almost every question time, we are joined by a Winter Olympian. The member for Warringah is quite rightly proud of her achievements, as are all Australians proud of her and what she did prior to being the member for Warringah, but today she has some distinguished company. Led by Chef de Mission Alisa Camplin and Deputy Chef de Mission Katya Crema, we have some extraordinary athletes in the gallery today who will be representing our nation at the 2026 Winter Olympics and Paralympics at Milano and Cortina in February and March. This will be one of the biggest squads Australia has ever sent to a winter games and one of our most experienced, with a number of athletes competing in their third, fourth or fifth Olympics.

Training for the winter games demands incredible skill, dedication and sacrifice. In a country like Australia, it also requires creativity and the ability to improvise. Josh Hanlon grew up in Weethalle in New South Wales in the wheatbelt. It is hard to imagine a landscape less likely to produce a world-class para-alpine skier. In Brisbane, Abbey Willcox trains on a ski ramp that launches into a swimming pool. In so many disciplines, Australians have found a way to pursue their Olympic dream. You should all be so proud of everything you have already achieved in representing the best nation on Earth, and you can be absolutely certain that, when you wear the green and gold in Italy next year, all Australians will be proud of you and cheering for you. That is the Australian way.

Just as you and your teammates were inspired to represent our nation on the world stage by the heroics of a previous generation of Australian champions, including Zali Steggall, what you do at the 2026 Games will inspire our future Olympians and Paralympians. The 2022 Winter Olympics delivered a record medal tally for Australia. In the best of Australian sporting tradition, I know you'll be looking to go one better. So all of us will be wishing you well and cheering you on. On behalf of every Australian, best of luck and enjoy the experience.

Honourable members: Hear, hear!

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