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The country's most decorated Paralympian, who is also a state MP, has accused the South Australian government of failing to adequately support a pre-games appeal for athletes heading to Paris, labelling the situation an "absolute disgrace" and "bitterly disappointing".
Former swimmer Matt Cowdrey claimed 23 medals, including 13 gold, for Australia across three Paralympic games before his retirement in 2015 — three years before he entered SA parliament as a Liberal MP.
The Olympic and Paralympic Team Appeal helps athletes to pay for expenses such as travel and medical treatment.
Mr Cowdrey, who is the SA opposition's sport spokesperson, said it was a vital pre-games fundraiser for competitors, with money to go towards "additional mattresses and those sorts of things for athletes with spinal disabilities".
ABC News has been advised South Australia gave more than $600,000 to the appeal for the Tokyo Olympics in 2020.
Mr Cowdrey is calling on the state government to chip in more for the Paralympic team. (ABC News: Lincoln Rothall)
In comparison, for Paris, the state government contributed $100,000 to a fundraising dinner in May that raised money for the appeal.
Most other states made more significant direct contributions to the fund — Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland each gave $1.5 million.
Mr Cowdrey said the government had "failed to recognise our Paralympic athletes", and that the decision was "one of the most disappointing" he had seen.
"It is certainly my understanding that Paralympics Australia as well as the AOC have made multiple approaches to the South Australian government, and to this point have failed to secure any contribution," he said.
"It is an absolute disgrace.
"[Premier] Peter Malinauskas needs to have a heart."
South Australia's Sport Minister Katrine Hildyard said the government had committed $100,000 to the Olympic appeals committee "to help them fundraise for our Olympians and Paralympians".
Sport Minister Katrine Hildyard has defended the amount of funding the state government allocates to support Olympians and Paralympians. (ABC News: Che Chorley)
Ms Hildyard said the government also allocated "$4.6 million each year" to the South Australian Sports Institute — general funding intended for athletes more broadly, including but not specifically for Olympians and Paralympians.
"We are making a very strong contribution," she said.
"We are absolutely supporting our elite athletes in a range of ways — through that contribution to the Olympic Appeal Committee, but also through the $4.6 million.
"[That supports] South Australia's elite athletes including many Olympians and Paralympians."
Ms Hildyard said the government had also invested $88 million in a new sports institute facility.