Thursday, 7 March 2024

Adjournment

Ingrid STITT (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (17:41): I move:

That the house do now adjourn.

Australian Paralympic and Olympic teams

Sheena WATT (Northern Metropolitan) (17:41): (769) Victoria truly is the home of sport, and on Tuesday night we had a selection of Victoria’s finest athletes right here in Parliament to tell us about the upcoming Paralympic and Olympic Games. Victoria being the home of sport is not reflected more than in the Allan Labor government’s announcement of a $1.5 million investment into our Paralympic and Olympic teams, to be split evenly between the two. Victoria has always been the home of sport and will continue to invest in and cheer on our state’s superstars.

Having so much sporting prowess in the halls of Parliament was just sensational, with Victoria producing some of the best athletes the Australian team has to offer. We are not short in the talent department. Jaryd Clifford’s story about realising his childhood dream of becoming a long-distance runner and champion while having a vision impairment was one of awesomely fierce determination and incredible courage. Jaryd just keeps on breaking down those barriers, and as he said on Tuesday, ‘You planted a flag, and it is our job to catch up.’ Thank you so much, Jaryd. I will be watching your journey and cheering you on, and I hope to see that gold medal around your neck.

I also had the honour of hearing from Shae Graham, a trailblazing wheelchair rugby superstar who taught me that the other name for that sport is murderball. I am not too sure what to expect from this team, but judging from its nickname and what Shae was saying, and I have got to say my experience is limited, I am very much looking forward to Paris. Before that, though, I was very generously and graciously invited to come and see the headquarters and have a tour of the facility and even watch a few practice matches, so it seems like that might be a sport to watch come Paris time.

My question to the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events is will he attend this tour with me and get stuck into wheelchair rugby, and is he open to having a go at the sport himself? From Parliament to Paris, from marathons to murderball, the Allan Labor government will be cheering on our Victorian superstars.