Kevin Hogan (Page, National Party, Deputy Manager of Opposition Business in the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That this House:

(1) acknowledges:

(a) the Order of Australia is the highest national honour awarded to Australian citizens for outstanding contributions to our country or humanity at large; and

(b) community members recognised through Australia Day 2026 Local Citizen of the Year awards; and

(2) congratulates all the recipients of awards on Australia Day 2026.

I acknowledge and thank and congratulate members of my community who received Australia Day Awards recently in Lismore. Citizen of the year was awarded to Rebekka Battista—congratulations, Bek. Young Citizen of the Year was Charlie Murray. The Service to the Community award went to Bruce Sheaffe. The Service to the Community (Group) award went to Rainbow Roos. Junior Sportsperson was Cooper Williams. The Sportsperson of the Year was Connor McCarthy—congratulations, Connor. Sports Team of the Year went to the wonderful Marist Brothers Rugby League Football Club. The Environment Award went to Ina Engermann. The Arts and Culture award went to Jacklyn Wagner. The Economic Excellence Award went to Felicity Hyde. The Academic Excellence Award was given to Chris Ingall. Michael Berry received an OAM for service to the community of Dunoon, and Geoffrey Plante received an OAM for service to town planning. Congratulations to all the winners and nominees in Lismore.

I acknowledge and congratulate all members of my community who received Australia Day Awards recently in the Clarence Valley. Citizen of the Year was Allan Woods, Young Citizen of the Year was Reny Dooley, and the Local Hero was Haley Hodgson. The Community Achievement (Group) Award went to the Cane Harvest Festival Committee—wasn't that a great event! It's great to see that back. Congratulations to all the winners and nominees in the Clarence Valley.

I acknowledge and congratulate members of my community who received Australia Day Awards recently in the Richmond Valley. Helen Cowan was named Richmond Valley Citizen of the Year. The Young Citizen of the Year went to Connor Shepherd. The Volunteer of the Year was Phil Cornish. The Young Volunteer of the Year was Isabel de Wit. The Sportsperson of the Year was Tony Curtis. The Young Sportsperson of the Year was Crystal Gill. The Community Organisation of the Year was Frangipani Care. Frederick Teudt received the Australian Fire Service Medal. Congratulations to all the winners and nominees from the Richmond Valley area.

I acknowledge and congratulate members of my electorate who received Australia Day Awards in the Ballina Shire Council area. Senior Citizen of the Year was Kenneth Brown. Volunteer of the Year was John Smith for the Marine Rescue Ballina, where he helps out. The Arts and Culture Award went to Jim Hawkins and the Community Event of the Year went to the North Coast Show and Shire, a wonderful event. Congratulations to all the winners and nominees from the Ballina Shire Council area.

I acknowledge and congratulate all members in my community who received Australia Day Awards in the Coffs Harbour City Council area. Citizen of the Year was Keelan Birch. The Young Citizen of the year was Mayada Oso. The Senior Citizen of the Year was Lorraine Kaempfel and the Aussie Spirit Award was awarded to the Lifehouse Care Pantries. The Aussie Spirit Award was also awarded to David Cole. Catherine Yeomans received an OAM for service to the community through a range of organisations. Congratulations to all the winners and nominees from the Coffs Harbour area.

I acknowledge and congratulate members of my community who received Australia Day Awards in the Kyogle Council area. In Kyogle the Citizen of the Year was Chris Olive. Senior Citizen of the Year was Tom Rogers. The Junior Citizen of the Year was Ruby Stafford. The Junior Sportsperson of the Year was Nate Walters. The Junior Student of the Year was Dakota Jane. The Senior Student of the year was Lacey Chadderton. Danielle Mulholland received an OEM for service to local government and to the community of Kyogle. Congratulations to all those winners.

I congratulate all the winners and recipients of Australia Day Awards in Woodenbong. Citizen of the year was awarded to David Hannant, senior citizen of the year to Glenda Compton and young citizen of the year to Ethan Green. Sportsperson of the year went to Ebony. The business of the year went to the Pitstop Cafe and the community organisation of the year to Woodenbong Cares.

I had the pleasure of attending the Bonalbo celebrations and would like to acknowledge and congratulate members of the community who received Australia Day Awards there—for citizen of the year, Helen Tarte; for achievement in sport, Emerald Dean; and, for community event of the year, the Working Dog Rally Gold Coast/Tweed Motor Sporting Club, co-hosted with the Bonalbo Sport and Recreation Club, whose president is Glen Brinkman. The organisation of the year was the Bonalbo CWA. The business of the year was Kelvyndale Farm, proprietors Kevin and Lyn Gambley—great family. Congratulations to all the winners and nominees from Bonalbo.

Andrew Wilkie (Clark, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Is the motion seconded?

Michelle Landry (Capricornia, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I second the motion and reserve my right to speak.

Ash Ambihaipahar (Barton, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Today we reflect on what makes Australia a very lucky country. When I look around in my electorate of Barton, I am constantly reminded that it is everyday people that we must thank for it—people committed to open, diverse and inclusive society, a society where, regardless of your individual differences, if you have a dream and the bravery to pursue it, you can achieve it. But some Australians go beyond achieving their own dreams. They look to their community to help others' dreams come true. I rise today to recognise and celebrate one of them: Mr Kenneth Robert Dunlop, known to many Australians as Ken 'Dazzler' Dunlop, who was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for his service to professional wrestling.

Ken was the first openly gay pro wrestler in Australia, the significance of which he personally plays down. Despite his retirement, his focus remains on lifting up the grassroots sporting tradition he loves and bringing the next generation of athletes along in its success. Ken's career in professional wrestling began in the late 1970s, at a time when there weren't large television contracts to keep the industry afloat. Instead, this grassroots tradition, which Ken informs me dates back to 1885 in Australia, depended on the dedication of people like him. Over two decades, Ken travelled long distances to perform night after night to audiences in their hundreds, crammed into regional venues, leagues clubs and town halls across the country. This chapter in Australian pro wrestling history has been recorded only because of people like Ken and his autobiography, Inside My Squared Circle. It is no exaggeration to say that Ken was instrumental in keeping Australian pro wrestling alive and can be credited for its continued success and popularity today.

When I went to visit Ken not very long ago in his home in the electorate of Barton, I was unsure what to expect from someone known as Dazzler. But, if you look him up, you'll quickly understand why his nickname, given to him by his beloved mentor, Roy Heffernan, eventually stuck. There are many images of Dazzler in his heyday, adorned in wrestling suits that were colourful enough to make a rainbow lorikeet blush. He is often depicted with championship belts slung across his shoulder or in mid-flight, somersaulting off the top ropes. But I didn't meet Dazzler that morning; I met Ken—a gentle, softly spoken bloke with a heart of gold and an undying love for his sport and the generations of Australians, both young and old, who have fought to keep it alive.

Dazzler built a reputation as a trustworthy wrestler who took the safety of fellow wrestlers very seriously. He was someone who made his colleagues look good in the ring for the entertainment of the crowd and who passed down technical expertise to the up-and-coming generation. He continues this stewardship in his retirement. He's built not just a career but a home and a family in the sport that he absolutely loves.

When I asked Ken who helped him develop his wrestling style and his persona, he simply said, 'Well, back then, you had to just do it yourself.' And it's true. Ken had to forge his own path in what was at the time a rough and ready macho subculture. He told me there were many days when he asked himself: 'Should I just give up? Should I just walk away?' In the end, it was his love for and dedication to the sport that kept him pushing through the dark.

Ken's message to the younger generation is that if you have a dream, whether that be pro wrestling, coming out or finding your true self and calling, you can reach out to your community. There are people to talk to; there are people who will help. It is clear that Ken's service to the community extends far beyond the boundaries of the squared circle, and he should be proud that, because of people like him, the younger generations no longer have to do it all by themselves.

Ken is the embodiment of the Australian spirit. This is the spirit that makes our nation the lucky country. It's not chance; it's not fate. It is the choice and grit of people like Ken who create and sustain our community. They make it a diverse, open and inclusive nation that we can all be very proud of. Congratulations, Ken. You absolutely deserve this award.

Michelle Landry (Capricornia, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise today to acknowledge and congratulate an outstanding central Queenslander Professor John Rolfe AM of Rockyview, who was recently appointed a Member of the Order of Australia as part of the Australia Day Honours. This is a richly deserved recognition for a man whose life work has strengthened regional Australia, shaped public policy and deepened our national understanding of the economic, environmental and agricultural challenges facing rural and regional communities, often in complex and contested policy environments.

Professor Rolfe is Professor of Regional Economic Development and the Deputy Dean Research in the School of Business and Law at CQ University in Rockhampton and a fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia. He's one of Australia's leading resource economists, and his influence extends well beyond Capricornia and Queensland, reaching national and international decision-makers alike. Over more than three decades, Professor Rolfe's research has informed governments, industry and communities on how to balance economic development with environmental stewardship, particularly in regional and agricultural settings where policy decisions have lasting social and economic consequences. His expertise spans non-market valuation, regional development, agricultural economics, environmental economics, resource management and economic impact assessment—all areas of enormous importance to our region and Australia more broadly.

Professor Rolfe has led more than 40 major research projects over the past decade alone. He has secured over $7.4 million in research funding from sources including the Australian Research Council, federal and state governments, research and development corporations and industry partners. Just as importantly, he has supervised numerous PhD and master's students, building the next generation of regional economists and researchers who will continue this important work into the future. His academic contribution is extraordinary. Professor Rolfe has published 115 refereed publications and a further 250 non-refereed articles and reports, with thousands of citations across global research platforms. He has co-edited two internationally significant reference books on non-market valuation and benefit transfer, published in 2006 and 2015, which continue to guide researchers and policymakers worldwide.

But Professor Rolfe's impact is not confined to academia. He has played a central role in applying vigorous economic analysis to real-world policy challenges from agricultural productivity and regional development to environmental protection and water quality flowing into the Great Barrier Reef. He was a leader of the 2013 and 2017 Great Barrier Reef science consensus statements and currently chairs the independent science panel for the Gladstone Healthy Harbour Partnership, a role he has held since 2016. He has also served as independent chair of the Gladstone Regional Community Consultative Committee, contributed to the Environmental Economics Research Hub, advised the Australian Council of Learned Academics and was appointed by both the Queensland and Australian governments to the Great Barrier Reef Independent Science Panel. These are positions of trust requiring not only technical expertise but judgement, independence and integrity—qualities Professor Rolfe exemplifies consistently and without compromise.

Importantly, John Rolfe understands regional Australia not just as an economist but as someone who has lived in it. With a background in agriculture and experience operating a cattle property in Central Queensland, he brings practical insight to his work that resonates deeply with regional communities and strengthens public confidence in evidence based decision-making. Professor Rolfe has also been part of CQUniversity since 1989, serving not only as an academic but also in senior leadership roles, including head of campus, head of school, director of a research centre and deputy dean of research. Has also served as editor-in-chief of the Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics and as president of the Australasian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society.

Professor John Rolfe's appointment as a member of the Order of Australia recognises a lifetime of service to regional economic development, evidence based policymaking and the pursuit of outcomes that genuinely benefit communities. It's also a reminder of the calibre of expertise that exists in regional Australia and an example of the pathways to leadership that can be achieved by regional communities. Professor Rolfe's success highlights the vital role our universities and researchers play in shaping a stronger, more resilient nation, one grounded in regional strength.

Fiona Phillips (Gilmore, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm so proud of the six outstanding residents who were recognised on the 2026 Australia Day Honours List for their selfless service to communities right across my Gilmore electorate. Eurobodalla Meals on Wheels president Phillip Armstrong of Broulee was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for his service to the community. Mr Armstrong has been a member of the Moruya Rotary Club since the year 2000 and, through his roles as treasurer, president and foundation chair, has been involved with drought relief and bushfire recovery efforts. He is a former district governor for Rotary International District 9710 and was named Rotarian of the Year for 2019-2020, the organisation's highest honour. A former international chair and board member of Campbell Page Australia, Mr Armstrong is also a former CEO, state board member and life member of Banksia Villages and has been involved with age and community services in New South Wales and the ACT.

Now a resident of Rosedale on the far South Coast, William Baker was awarded an OAM for his service to the community of Queanbeyan. A retired lawyer, Mr Baker is the President of Treehouse Queanbeyan, a charity that supports children with developmental delay or disability, and he founded the Treehouse family fund. He was a founding member and former president of the Queanbeyan Business Council and has held executive roles with the Telopea swimming club, Triathlon ACT and the New South Wales Country Children's Services Association. Mr Baker was chair of the selection committee for the Sydney Olympics Australian triathlon team and has been involved with many children and youth organisations.

Decorated former police officer and Rotarian Kenneth Hutt of Berry was awarded an OAM for his service to the community. A member of the Berry Rotary Club, foundation director and former international director, Mr Hutt went above and beyond—literally—to raise funds for Rotary's End Polio Now campaign. The Berry adventurer reached dizzying heights by paragliding at locations around the world, including Mount Everest in the Himalayas and the Lobuche Peak in Nepal. A member of the Sports Aviation Federation of Australia, his efforts featured in the 2022 Fly from Everest documentary. Mr Hutt's incredible dedication secured him a swag of rotary awards, including the Paul Harris Fellow and the Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal with Indian Ocean clasp.

Margaret Snelling of Kiama was awarded an OAM for her service to hockey, but her contributions go way beyond the hockey field. Mrs Snelling was a player, committee member, umpire and coach with the Kiama Hockey Club for more than 40 years and was made a life member of the Kiama Ladies Hockey Club in 1991. She is a life member of Illawarra South Coast Hockey, played for the New South Wales veterans ladies team and shared her passion with young players, kicking off Minkey, mini hockey, in the 1970s. Mrs Snelling dedicated 65 years to Kiama's Saints Peter and Paul Catechist Ministry, where she coordinated the parish knitting group and taught scripture at local schools. And she was a delivery driver with Kiama Meals on Wheels for 50 years.

The fifth OAM for Gilmore was awarded to Shane Wicks from Gerringong. The retired New South Wales ambulance paramedic is a life member and former captain of the Gerringong Rural Fire Brigade. He has been a flood rescue operations officer with the New South Wales State Emergency Service. And he is the President of Surf Life Saving New South Wales's South Coast Branch. A volunteer and life member of the Gerringong Surf Life Saving Club, Mr Wicks keeps locals and visitors safe on our beaches, and he takes his paramedic experience onto the field as Gerringong Lions rugby league club's medical support officer. He also provides important mental health support for young people in our community. Mr Wicks has been awarded the National Medal, the National Emergency Medal and the New South Wales Public Schools Parent of the Year.

Kiama's Mitchell von Borstel was honoured with the Australian Corrections Medal. Mr von Borstel began his career at the Long Bay Correctional Complex in 2007, and he has risen through the ranks to senior assistant superintendent at the Security Operations Group, where he engages in high-risk interventions and critical-incident responses at sites across New South Wales.

Congratulations and thank you to these six sensational Gilmore residents.

Andrew Wilkie (Clark, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Gilmore. The time allotted for this debate has expired. The debate is adjourned and the resumption of the debate will be made an order of the day for the next sitting.

Sitting suspended from 13:31 to 16:05