Thursday 30 November 2023

Minister for Tourism, Innovation and Sport and Minister Assisting the Premier on Olympics and Paralympics Sport and Engagement, the Honourable Stirling Hinchliffe MP; Deputy Mayor Brisbane City Council, Councillor Krista Adams; QSport Deputy Chair, Ms Alison Lyons and CEO, Mr Tim Klar; partners and sponsors; award recipients and Hall of Fame inductees; distinguished guests; ladies and gentlemen.

I begin by acknowledging the Traditional Owners of the lands around Brisbane, the Turrbal and Jagera people, and pay my respects to Elders past, present and emerging, and to all First Nations people here this evening.

I am delighted to be with you this evening for the presentation of the 2023 Queensland Sport Awards.

Tonight, we honour and celebrate the very special people who contribute so significantly to the vibrancy and success of organised sport in our State.

This year’s list of contenders is truly impressive, and I heartily congratulate each of you for excelling at such a high level.

I know that to achieve as you have done takes incredible commitment and passion, and whether you are an athlete, coach, official, team-member, or volunteer, or have led the way in sports innovation, events or administration, you are each integral to making Queensland’s sports-scene thrive.

You not only highlight the depth of talent we have in this State, but also represent the extraordinary range and reach of organised sport across Queensland—which is enormously beneficial to the holistic wellbeing of people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds.

When I was sworn in as Governor, I pledged to do all I could to encourage a healthy and active Queensland. You are making my job so much easier, because I know that right across our state—from the large towns to the smallest communities—clubs, teams and dedicated individuals are out there, on land and water, encouraging people to be up, and moving.

It is well researched that exercise is crucial to preventing and treating chronic conditions such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer, reducing risk factors such as hypertension and obesity, and helping to build strength.

But, of course, we are also continuing to discover how much physical activity promotes better mental and emotional health.

Sport builds a sense of belonging, and the chance to form lasting friendships. It enables us to learn new skills—generating greater confidence off the field.

And, perhaps most significantly, organised sport forges connections that reach deeply into the heart of communities everywhere—uniting us and invigorating the places we call home…undeniably it is also a lot of fun!

Quite simply, sport is an essential part of our way of life, and I know that Queensland’s outstanding credentials in sport participation and organisation, and the immense positive effect it has on our economic fortunes, will serve us well as our State looks towards hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2032.

I commend QSport’s CEO, Mr Tim Klar, the Board, staff, Members, generous sponsors, and partners for all you do to promote sporting excellence in this State.

And finally, I again congratulate contenders, winners and those wonderful individuals being inducted tonight into the Hall of Fame or becoming a Legend. Your contributions to your fields and to the broader community are absolutely remarkable!

Spinal Life Australia, CEO, Mr Mark Townend AM and Board Member Mr Gerard O’Brien; distinguished guests; ladies and gentlemen.

I begin by acknowledging the Traditional Owners of the lands around Brisbane, the Turrbal and Jagera people, and pay my respects to Elders past, present and emerging, and to all First Nations people here tonight.

Graeme and I are very pleased to welcome you all to Government House for this reception in support of the International Day of People with Disability.

Recognised internationally this Sunday, it is a highly significant day for all who live their lives with disability and for those who work to make a genuine difference in their lives. Spinal Life is one such organisation and I am very proud to be your Patron.

The work of those who advocate for and champion human rights in the sphere of disability, is applauded. These are the individuals, the businesses, the support organisations who not only ‘talk’, but also ‘do’, on behalf of others.

With 2023 being the Year of Accessible Tourism in Queensland, those living their lives with disability are afforded some of the same community engagement opportunities as other members of society.  

Companies that have undertaken audits of their offerings to determine any impediments to engagement and identify opportunities for improvement, have travelled some way to bridging the gaps that still exist for people with disability.

To the many organisations who are working hard to make a genuine difference to individual lives, we thank you. But there remains work still to be done, and this International Day of People with Disability highlights through its theme that several of the Sustainable Development Goals are still in need of greater focus.

So, today whilst we celebrate the strides that have been made in improving community accessibility – in all its forms – for people with disability, we also shine a light on the distance yet to be covered.  

Spinal Life has a mission ‘to enable those living with disability to live an accessible, equitable, and empowered life and is determined to be forward thinking and collaborative, to embrace change, and improve at every turn, in order to see such a mission come to fruition. For this mission is so important.

Through meaningful dialogue and feedback, through listening and heeding the lived experiences of those with disability, genuine, positive change can be enacted. Spinal Life has a purpose that is solely focussed on such change in order to improve lives.

This purpose is upheld by the continued support of the Spinal Life Australia Board, its staff, volunteers and members. Coupled with community partners who also share in the belief that our communities need to be accessible and inclusive, today, together, we celebrate International Day of People with Disability.

Thank you.