John and Janette Howard were dwarfed and even the taller Kim Beazley felt intimidated when Lauren Jackson and half of Australia's world-beating women's basketball team hit Parliament House in Canberra.

Jackson and a host of teammates were honoured for their recent world championship win with an official reception in the Members' Hall.

Defence force chief Air Marshall Angus Houston and a host of military types were in attendance, marking the Opals' new sponsorship by Defence Jobs, the recruiting website for the Australian Defence Force.

Jackson said the Opals were proud to have beaten the world in the globe's second most popular sport, played in 213 countries.

"They're the best team I've been a part of," Jackson said.

Basketball Australia chief executive Scott Derwin hailed the all-conquering basketballers as an inspiration and a key weapon in the battle against childhood obesity.

"These girls and other elite players are a tremendous role model in trying to encourage our young to be more active," he said, as the assembled audience munched on battered prawn cutlets, fried chicken and buttery filo pastries.

The prime minister was more restrained than after the Opals' Commonwealth Games win in Melbourne in March, when he enthusiastically kissed each team member.

Mr Howard told the gathering that the victory over Russia in the world championship final in Brazil last month had done remarkable things for the sport.

"I know that you will be working very hard towards success at the Beijing Olympic Games, which of course are now getting very close. It's the next big opportunity the Opals will have to show the world that we deserve the No.1 title," he said.

Mr Beazley was clearly struck by the height of the women sharing the stage with him - and in the audience.

"I am unused to being in the company of women who dwarf me, and I must say it's most delightful and very daunting," the opposition leader said.

"It's what gives me absolute confidence that we have the genetics in this country to stay on top forever."

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