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Kate is passionate about contributing to public debate on a wide range of important issues. Here are some of the issues she has touched on in the past.
- Should successful athletes have to pay back the AIS 10 Jun 2009
- Let's give youth voice now for a better future 12 Oct 2008
- Organ donation it's the greatest gift of all 21 Sep 2008
- Is safe sex message falling on deaf ears 31 Aug 2008
- Grassroots funding is key to Olympic glorys 10 Aug 2008
- Easy to overlook big issue of homelessness 20 Jul 2008
- Trailblazer Natasha leaves lasting legacy 29 Jun 2008
- Heavy hitters boost our World Cup hopes 01 Jun 2008
- Youth Forum Discussion Paper 17 May 2008
- We can't take sport for granted 11 May 2008
- Women truly can do anything be anything 20 Apr 2008
- Let the Games begin with all our athletes 30 Mar 2008
- Proud past but future a challenge for women 09 Mar 2008
- Young people will be heard at highest level 17 Feb 2008
- Our nation has changed dramatically in three weeks 16 Dec 2007
- Mobile Phone Towers 23 Sep 2007
- Bradken Foundry 01 Jul 2007
- Full Fees 03 Jun 2007
- Eating Disorders 17 Dec 2006
- Iraq 27 Jul 2006
- Electoral Laws 26 Jun 2006
- Dental 08 Jan 2006
- Make Poverty History 18 Sep 2005
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
Media Releases
2010 | 2009 | 200820 Sep 2008 - Welcome home to our Aussie Paralympic heroes
The largest ever Australian Paralympic Team to compete abroad returned to our shores today with 79 medals, including 23 gold.
Minister for Sport and Youth, Kate Ellis, and Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children's Services, Bill Shorten today welcomed our Paralympians home from Beijing.
"Australia can be proud of our Teams' achievements, their sportsmanship and sheer drive to compete, the results demonstrate yet again that Australia can match it with the best on the worlds biggest sporting stages," Mr Shorten said.
"The Australian Team finished fifth in the gold medal count - an amazing result given the tough competition against China, the USA and the UK."
Mr Shorten, who attend the last week of the Paralympic Games, also commended the dedicated families and friends and 600 strong supporters who made the journey.
"I feel privileged to have seen our Australian athletes compete and it was an absolute honour to meet and cheer with the athletes' families and friends," Mr Shorten said.
"At every event Aussies were vocal in the crowd and the Australian flag hung proudly - making the atmosphere electric."
Minister Ellis was in Beijing for the first week of the Games and congratulated the Australian Paralympic Committee (APC) and their dedicated team for all of their hard work and support for the athletes during the Games.
"The Australian Government provided more than $26 million to the APC and it was worth every cent," Ms Ellis said.
"Every Australian athlete had access to top class support, and this is a real credit to the APC."
Ms Ellis said that the Australian Government would continue to work with the APC in the lead up to the London Paralympic Games in 2012.
"This Government is a proud and strong supporter of the team and we look forward to continuing to support the APC and Paralympic sport in Australia."
Ms Ellis and Mr Shorten encouraged more Australian businesses to join the Government in supporting our athletes as they prepare for London in 2012.