First Nations Athletes, Paris Olympic Games

The Hon. M. EL DANNAWI (14:29): My question is to the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs. Will the minister inform the chamber about some of the First Nations athletes who have been selected to represent Australia in the upcoming Paris Olympic Games?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (14:29): I thank the honourable member for her question and I would be most delighted to do so. Beginning with basketballer Michael Ah Matt and boxers Adrian Blair and Francis Roberts in 1964, we have now seen something in the order of 60 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander athletes represent our country at various Olympic Games.

From Nova Peris being the first Aboriginal gold medallist for hockey in 1996 and, of course, Cathy Freeman's historic race in 2000 to win the 400 metres, to in more modern times, Paddy Mills and his Boomers and Ash Barty, the tennis superstar, both taking out bronze, Aboriginal athletes have excelled on the global stage and at the Olympics. This year will be no different and it is my pleasure to inform the chamber about two remarkable young athletes who have been selected to wear the green and gold and represent their country in boxing at the Olympic Games to be held in Paris later this year.

Callum Peters, a 21-year-old boxer, will make his Olympic debut in July after winning gold at the 2023 Pacific Games in Honiara in the Solomon Islands, the Oceania qualifier. Hailing from Davoren Park, Callum is a proud Aboriginal man who has his eyes set on achieving his goal to become the first Australian boxer to win gold. Training under his father, Bradley Peters, Callum spent the last 12 years working, training and progressing in his boxing career to where he is able to call himself an Olympian, and hopefully he can reach that next level and take a medal.

Also born in Geelong is 22-year-old Marissa Williamson Pohlman, who will be the first Aboriginal female boxer to represent Australia at the Olympics. A Ngarrindjeri woman raised on Wadawurrung country in Victoria, Marissa's tough upbringing through the foster care system turned her to a sport where she excelled. A talented AFLW player who was on the verge of a career on the football field, Marissa made the switch to boxing when opportunities started opening up for her. In 2019, she won both state and national championships, which led to her being named NAIDOC Sportsperson of the Year. Marissa received her ticket to Paris when she also won gold at the 2023 Pacific Games in Honiara, like teammate Callum.

I want to congratulate both Callum and Marissa for their incredible careers to date so far, reaching the status of Olympian. I am sure they will have the support of the whole country, and we hope to see them both on the podium, hopefully with a gold medal.