09/11/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/10/2024 19:26
MARK BERETTA, HOST: Prime Minister, thanks for joining us. I've got to ask you, firstly, what's happening in Melbourne, the protests, the violence at the Land Forces Conference. What's your feeling on that?
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Well look, people have a right to protest peacefully, but you don't say you're opposed to defence equipment by throwing things at police. They've got a job to do and our police officers should be respected at all times.
BERETTA: Let's talk about the better stuff today, Prime Minister. There's some hard things you have to do in your job, but this is one of the better days of the job.
PRIME MINISTER: No, this is a beauty to welcome these wonderful athletes home. I just ran into Vanessa Low, who I had a FaceTime with from Paris just a couple of days ago. She told me she slipped on an earlier plane to get back here. But they are just worthy of our admiration, our support, our praise. They have brought a great deal of joy to Australians over the last couple of weeks.
BERETTA: It's great that you can be here too, because for Paralympians especially, this is a family effort. And to see these families finally reunited with their athletes, that's a special moment.
PRIME MINISTER: Well these athletes, many of them have overcome different forms of adversity. They haven't done that by themselves, they've done that with the support of their families, their peers, their coaches, and today's a celebration of that achievement - and they're so uplifting. When I've been engaged with them when we made the announcement of increased funding for Paralympic sport at the Australian Institute of Sport, the joy that was there, it was one of the best things it's been my privilege to do.
BERETTA: I know you would have seen a lot of the Paralympics. Did you have any special memories or anything that stands out from the eleven days of competition?
PRIME MINISTER: Vanessa was pretty cool, I've got to say, breaking her own world record with her first jump and then equalising it a few jumps later. The swimming, I mean, how good watching these swimmers swim faster than, you know, I could ever dream of doing is incredible. All of them are just such inspirations and what they will do, there will be young boys and girls out there watching who will say, I reckon I can do that in Brisbane in 2032. Just as Louise Sauvage and the athletes who have come before this generation inspired these people to have a crack and end up representing Australia with such distinction.
BERETTA: How does it make you feel and how does it make us feel now heading towards Brisbane 2032?
PRIME MINISTER: It's an exciting time. I remember the lead up to Sydney 2000 and the excitement which was overjoyed in the lead up to it. I know those people who left Sydney and hired out their house in 2000 regret that decision. I know that there's some concern about Brisbane, but I'm not concerned. At this time in the calendar before 2000, Sydney hadn't even been selected. So there's lots of time to get this right and it will put Brisbane on the global map, as the great global city that it is. And it will be great for Australia to be showcased.
BERETTA: Prime Minister, great to have you down here to welcome these athletes back. Enjoy your role today, it's going to be pretty special.
PRIME MINISTER: I think this will be much more fun than what'll come after. Much more fun than Question Time. I reckon we should just stay here.
BERETTA: You stay here as long as you like. Good to see you, Prime Minister. Thanks very much.