John Alexander (Bennelong, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

[by video link] Much like the majority of this country, I'm currently in an area affected by lockdowns. We can only go out for an hour. We can't see our friends and family. We're all restricted in our actions. We all know that we need to do this to keep everybody safe, but even the good reasons behind this lockdown don't make it any easier. So, on behalf of the locked down, the couch bound and the bored, I thank all the athletes from the Olympics who kept our spirits up through August and the athletes from the Paralympics who are starting their journeys this week.

The Paralympics are always very exciting. Watching people who not only have had to survive difficulty but push themselves to become world-beaters is inspirational. This year, these incredible athletes will not only inspire us; they will keep us motivated and optimistically connected to the outside world and engrossed in their competing in Japan.

In the last week, I had the pleasure of speaking with Bennelong local Tyan Taylor, a three-time Paralympian and member of the Australian Belles goalball team. Tyan is an inspiration. When not an Olympian, she works with Blind Sports Australia to promote the sporting opportunities for people with limited vision. So thank you to Tyan and the hundreds of Paralympians with her who are keeping up our spirits and teaching us all how unconquerable the human spirit is. It's a lesson we need now more than ever.