I begin by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we meet and I pay my respects to their elders past, present and emerging.
It’s an honour to join all of you here this evening, as we continue a great Australian sporting tradition.
Ever since 1984 and the LA games, this dinner has brought together champions of Australian Olympic history and leaders from across the business community and civil society to support the extraordinary men and women who will be representing our country on the biggest stage in world sport.
I want to thank everyone who has worked so hard to bring this remarkable evening together.
In particular, the Team Appeal Committee, led by Peter Fox.
In less than a month from now, Australians in every part of our country will be glued to the coverage from Paris.
Cheering on our athletes as they compete at the very pinnacle of their sport, against the very best in the world.
We will share in all the drama and excitement with our friends and families and colleagues.
And the heroes of this generation will inspire the next generation to dream of wearing the green and gold.
Because every champion representing Australia in the weeks ahead began their journey to Paris, their climb to the highest level, at Little Athletics, or in the local pool or at their community sports centre.
And behind every Olympian and Paralympian is a lifetime of commitment and sacrifice from them and also from everyone who believed in them – their parents and family and junior coaches.
Sport brings us together. It unites us – and it inspires us.
That’s true all the way from the grassroots, to the elite level.
And it needs investment and support at every stage.
That’s why evenings like this are so important: raising valuable funds to support our athletes, coaches and support staff.
For forty years, the generosity of this dinner has been a hugely significant contributor to Australia’s Olympic success.
And I know – like our athletes – all of you will be looking to break records tonight.
Our Government is doing its part too.
Yesterday, I was proud to stand alongside Cate Campbell to announce a record of $283 million in new funding will flow to our elite athletes, coaches and support staff over the next two years.
This investment represents a 50 per cent increase on the previous Government’s high performance funding.
It also represents a doubling of the investment for Paralympic athletes.
This new funding is in addition to our $102.8 million annual grant funding and brings the Government’s total high-performance investment to $489m over two years.
The funding package for Paralympians is the biggest ever, as our Government addresses systemic and structural barriers to performance for para athletes that had been ignored for too long.
The investment will be a major boost for Aussie spirits ahead of Paris next month, and will strengthen Australia’s hopes for gold at LA in 2028, Brisbane in 2032, Winter and Commonwealth Games events.
This is on top of the $250 million we announced last month for the redevelopment of the AIS and the more than $3 billion we have committed to Olympic infrastructure for Brisbane.
Melbourne’s famous ‘Friendly Games’ changed the Olympics forever.
Sydney 2000 set a new global standard.
And I’m confident Brisbane will once again show the very best of Australia and our people to the world.
Thank you all for being here tonight, thank you for digging deep.
And to our Chef de Mission, the legendary Anna Meares, to all the athletes and everyone else with a part to play in Paris, our nation is cheering you on and we know you’ll do us proud, as you always do.
All the very best.