MPs dunked to support fight against MND

17 June 2025

Member for Narre Warren North Belinda Wilson was the first MP to step up for dunking.
Member for Narre Warren North Belinda Wilson was the first MP to step up for dunking.

The Big Freeze has come to Parliament House.

Member for Pakenham Emma Vulin, who has motor neurone disease (MND), brought together members of parliament from across the political spectrum to support the efforts of FightMND to defeat what’s known as ‘the Beast’.

The $50,000 raised at the event will contribute to the search for treatments and a cure for MND.

‘It continues to amaze me the support that I have here in my workplace. I am so, so lucky to be living with MND but having the possibility of being able to continue in my work,’ Ms Vulin told the MPs, staff and media who had gathered in the Parliament House gardens.

‘I feel very privileged and I know that's not the case for a lot of people impacted by motor neurone disease. But to come here and have the Parliament make so many changes to make this place more accessible and to have the support of all my colleagues from any political party it's quite amazing. I feel very, very lucky.’

Emma Vulin expressed her appreciation for all the support she had received to help make Parliament more accessible.

More than 2,000 Australians are living with MND, which is a progressive disease that gradually takes away a person’s use of their arms and legs, their ability to eat and swallow, their speech and, ultimately, their ability to breathe.

Premier Jacinta Allan congratulated Emma Vulin for bringing Parliament together for such a worthwhile cause.

Speaking at the Parliament House event, Premier Jacinta Allan and Opposition Leader Brad Battin both praised Emma Vulin for her courage and determination.

Opposition Leader Brad Battin was one of several MPs who took the plunge.

FightMND was founded in 2014 by 2025 Australian of the Year Neale Daniher AO, Pat Cunningham, and the late Dr Ian Davis OAM with a vision of a world free from motor neurone disease. Their determination sparked a movement, uniting Australians from coast to coast in the fight against this relentless disease.