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

Early Saturday morning our time, the Australian team marched proudly in the opening ceremony of the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics. Flagbearers Matt Graham and Jakara Anthony led a team of 53 athletes. There is a special sporting magic to the Olympics, and, of course, we all look forward to Australia hosting the Summer Olympics in 2032 in Brisbane and the drama and excitement of people competing on the biggest global stage.

Even if you are, like me, very much entry level in your knowledge of these winter sports, you can instantly recognise the skill and, indeed, the bravery of people going downhill on a bit of metal at over 100 kays an hour. It's pretty extraordinary. They're representing us when they do it. They show skill, passion and, of course, national pride. Every Olympics produces remarkable stories. Already, there's 20-year-old Valentino Guseli from the New South Wales South Coast. He was not even supposed to be competing in the men's big air; his main event is the snowboard half-pipe. Owing to the last-minute withdrawal of Canadian Mark McMorris, he not only stepped up and competed but he made the final and finished 10th. His enormously proud extended family were watching it from a ski shop in Cooma, in the electorate of Eden-Monaro.

I'm proud to say that Rosie Fordham from Grayndler was one of the Aussies to take part in the cross-country. Earlier today, Tess Coady, who won a bronze in Beijing, and Mela Stalker both qualified for the women's big air final, and we'll be cheering them on tomorrow. Our Olympians inspire us and unite us, and I hope they know that the whole nation is behind them, not least of whom, of course, is the member for Warringah, who had the honour of representing Australia. We'll be barracking for the Winter Paralympians in March, and we're barracking for our Olympians over the next couple of weeks.

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

I rise to associate the opposition with the Prime Minister's remarks on the Winter Olympics. Team Australia is turning up with skill and grit. We have 53 athletes across 10 sports—33 women and 20 men—30 of whom are making their debut. We are proud of our flagbearers, Jakara Anthony and Matt Graham, and we are cheering on Scotty James in the half-pipe and Tess Coady and Mela Stalker in the women's big air final, with our youngest Olympian, 16-year-old Indra Brown, representing the next generation. Like Australians everywhere, we saw both the courage and the danger of this sport when Lindsey Vonn returned at 41, carrying injury into a comeback, before a heartbreaking fall early in the downhill. We wish her a full recovery. To every Australian athlete and coach and all the support staff, the nation is with you. Go well.