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Paralympics 2021: Prime Minister Scott Morrison announces medal payment parity for athletes

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Dylan Alcott in action during the Wheelchair Tennis Doubles finals Ariake Tennis Park  during the Tokyo Paralympic Games in Tokyo, Thursday, September 2, 2021, (AAP Image/Paralympics Australia/Sport the Library/Jeff Crow) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY
Camera IconDylan Alcott in action during the Wheelchair Tennis Doubles finals Ariake Tennis Park during the Tokyo Paralympic Games in Tokyo, Thursday, September 2, 2021, (AAP Image/Paralympics Australia/Sport the Library/Jeff Crow) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY Credit: JEFF CROW/PR IMAGE

Scott Morrison has announced that Australia’s Paralympic medallists will receive equivalent bonus payments to their Olympic counterparts.

Speaking before the House of Representatives on Thursday, the Prime Minister said the move recognised the “national significance” of the Paralympic team.

Prior to Mr Morrison’s announcement, the Paralympic athletes did not receive any monetary bonuses for winning medals.

By contrast, Australia’s Olympic Committee offers a $20,000 cash bonus for Olympic gold medallists, while silver medallists and bronze medallists take home $15,000 and $10,000, respectively.

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The disparity had caused controversy throughout this year’s Games, and on Thursday the Morrison government informed Paralympics Australia chief executive Lyn Anderson that it would take action.

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“I’m very pleased to announce that the government will provide additional support to Paralympics Australia to ensure our Paralympic medallists will receive equivalent payments to our Olympic medallists,” Mr Morrison said.

“I’m delighted we have been able to support our fantastic Paralympians in this way.

“I thank Lyn for the great work that she does with our Paralympic team and the way we have worked together on this.”

In the five years leading up to the Tokyo Paralympics, the Australian government spent $88.8m on high performance programs for para athletes.

The Morrison government’s 2021/22 budget included $3.5m of funding dedicated to helping Australia’s Tokyo Paralympians overcome the financial impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Prime Minister said he was “so proud” of Australia’s Paralympians, who had won 60 Paralympic medals by Thursday afternoon

“They have shown discipline, focus, determination, dogged persistence, a great sense of humour, a great sense of the Australian spirit,” Mr Morrison said.

“We have witnessed the essence of what sport is all about: being the best you possibly can be.”

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Camera IconScott Morrison. Credit: News Corp Australia

The Prime Minister thanked the organisers of the Tokyo Games and said he looked forward to witnessing the “tremendous efforts” of Australia’s athletes across the final days of the Paralympics.

“To everyone in the Paralympic movement and to all who organise these Games, especially our great friends in Japan, I say thank you. I say thank you,” he said.

“It has been a great triumph and will continue to be in the days ahead, and to all our Paralympians, thank you so much for inspiring us.

“Congratulations on your tremendous efforts.

“You have inspired us and we are grateful that you’re one of us as Australians.”

This year’s Paralympics featured more than 4500 athletes representing 163 different countries.

By Thursday afternoon, Australia was ranked eighth in the medal tally, with 13 gold medals, 23 bronze and 24 silver.

Australia’s Paralympians proved just as dominant in the pool as their Olympic counterparts — 28 of the country’s medals were for swimming as at Thursday afternoon.

The Tokyo Paralympic Games conclude on Sunday.

Originally published as Paralympics 2021: Prime Minister Scott Morrison announces groundbreaking move towards equality in sport

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