Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to 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!

Sussan Ley (Farrer, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Today, we welcome to parliament some of the finest examples of Australian courage, discipline and spirit: our Winter Olympians and Paralympians. To those here in the chamber, and those who have joined us in Parliament House during the day, we say 'thank you' for inspiring a nation. You are more than athletes. You are role models, mentors and dream makers. You remind every young Australian that greatness is not confined to where you are born but found in the courage to chase your dreams—even if those dreams lead you to snow, ice and mountains half a world away. In just 92 days time, Team Australia will head to Milan and Cortina to represent our nation in the Winter Olympic Games. Around 55 athletes will wear the green and gold across 12 disciplines, including new events like ski mountaineering and dual moguls. It's a reflection of how far we've come as a winter sport nation. They follow in the footsteps of legends who made history before them, from Alisa Camplin's golden moment in Salt Lake City to Jakara Anthony's triumph in Beijing—and, of course, there is the member for Warringah. These are athletes who show the world that Australia can stand tall on snow and ice.

Just a few weeks later, our Paralympic team will carry that same spirit into competition, led by Chef de Mission Ben Troy and team captain Sean Pollard. With qualifications secured in a record four sports, and Paralympic stars like Georgia Gunew, Ethan Jackson and Josh Hanlon leading the charge, our Paralympians are showing once again that courage and commitment know no boundaries. These games will mark 50 years since Australia first competed at the Winter Paralympics, a milestone worthy of reflection and celebration. From Michael Milton's legendary gold in 1992 to the athletes preparing today, our Paralympians remind us that strength is not measured by what life gives you but by how fiercely you rise to meet it. So to all our Winter Olympians and Paralympians, past, present and future: we wish you every success as you complete your preparations and head to the northern snow and ice. You carry our hopes, our pride and all our love of country.

Honourable members: Hear, hear!