Ms PAYNE (Canberra) (11:24): I rise today, full of pride as an Australian, to congratulate our amazing Paralympic team, who have just competed at the 2024 Paris Paralympics. These remarkable athletes have once again shown the world the true spirit of determination, resilience and excellence that defines our nation. With the closing ceremony taking place overnight, marking the end to the games, our Paralympians are returning home with 63 medals, including 18 gold, 17 silver and 28 bronze. But, medal or no medal, all of our athletes wearing the green and gold have done our nation proud. From the moment the Paralympic flame was lit, our team have embodied the very best of what it means to be Australian. They have faced challenges with unwavering courage and have inspired us all with their commitment to pushing the limits of what is possible.
We have a few Canberra locals amongst the winners. For Canberra, we saw adopted local Vanessa Low win gold in the T61 long jump. She did it in style too, breaking her own world record in the process. We saw Australia's mixed medley team win an incredible gold. Canberran Jesse Aungles was joined by Timothy Hodge, Emily Beecroft and Alexa Leary in the final, with Keira Stephens and Callum Simpson playing crucial roles in the heats. We saw 18-year-old Alex Saffy, a proud product of the AIS right here in Canberra, win his first-ever Paralympic medal in the 100-metre S10 butterfly. These incredible achievements are not just about medals; they are about the stories behind each athlete and their journey. They are about overcoming adversity, defying the odds and showing the world what athletes with a disability can achieve. I also want to acknowledge the support teams—the coaches, families and friends who have stood by our athletes every step of the way. Their encouragement and dedication have been instrumental in these successes, and we owe them our gratitude as well.
Australia loves our sport, and we love our para-athletes. I'm so proud to be a member of a government that is investing in our Paralympians. In June, I stood beside the Prime Minister and the Minister for Sport to announce that the Albanese government was doubling the funding for para-sports. The $54.9 million in additional funding is the biggest ever Paralympics spend by an Australian government. In August, Minister Wells announced that, for the first time, the Australian government would provide para-athletes with the same financial incentives for winning medals as Olympians. Gold medallists will receive $20,000, silver medallists will receive $15,000, and bronze medallists will receive $10,000.
The Paris 2024 Paralympics will be remembered not just for the broken records and the medals won but for the moments that have united us all in pride and admiration for our athletes. To our Paralympians: thank you for representing Australia with such distinction. You are true champions—not just in sport, but in life—and you're an inspiration to us all. Just like our Olympians a few weeks before, you've inspired the nation and made us so proud to be Australian. Thank you, Paralympians.
