Article by Josh Alstone courtesy of the Daily Mail, Australia.
- Rinehart is Australia’s richest person
- Netballers contracts expire on August 31
- Pay dispute temporarily paused
Mining magnate Gina Rinehart has donated over $60million from her private fortune to Australian Olympians since 2012 as the netballers who cost themselves a $15million sponsorship from the mining magnate prepare for a pay war.
News Corp has revealed that Australia’s richest person with an estimated value of $43.5billion has splashed the cash ever since the Aussie swimmers bombed out in the pool at the London 2012 Games.
Meanwhile Netball Australia was only able to name a team for the current World Cup in South Africa after a truce was declared with the Australian Netball Players’ Association (ANPA) over pay.
Netball Australia infamously cost itself a lucrative $15million sponsorship deal with Rinehart’s Hancock Mining because a player questioned wearing the company logo on her uniform.
Indigenous netballer Donnell Wallam had expressed concern over wearing the logo because of comments Rinehart’s late father Lang Hancock had made about Aboriginal Australians almost four decades ago.
Wallam was backed by teammates and Rinehart withdrew the funding, leaving Netball Australia in a financial black hole.
Now Netball Australia and the ANPA are engaged in a civil war over pay for players, with the governing body initially threatening to not name a squad for the World Cup.
Australian Diamonds contracts expire on August 31 and players want a slice of the revenue generated by the sport, which Netball Australia cannot presently afford.
Rinehart’s donations have been made to a raft of athletes, including members of the Australian swimming, rowing and beach volleyball teams.
She presently contributes to 75 Aussie swimmers and 50 rowers.
Rinehart’s contributions make her the largest individual benefactor of the Australian athletes and she deals with them directly because of her passion for Aussie Olympians.
‘The great effort and sacrifices these young athletes make to compete at the world’s top level is truly inspiring,’ Rinehart wrote in her News Corp column in 2016.
‘The qualities and characteristics that these athletes possess — the determination, tenacity, perseverance and drive — make them outstanding role models for Australians.
‘It is these qualities which make it clear why they are great ambassadors for our country and indeed could become future leaders of Australia.
They have got to being among the world’s best through their own hard work and efforts. It is no part of their ethos to think they are entitled to win — they know they should only earn medals and respect from their own hard work and efforts.
‘They are champions competing against the entitlement culture so sadly affecting our country, and its future.’
Rinehart was present at the recent World Aquatic Championships in Japan where the Aussie swimmers hauled in more gold medals than any other nation.
‘A huge and warm congratulations to all our Aussie swimmers for their fantastic efforts in Fukuoka, representing Australia proudly and shining on the world stage,’ she said after the event.
‘I’m told this is Australia’s best ever international swimming performance. It’s very exciting to be here with these young role models and patriotic ambassadors.’
Australian swimmer Shayna Jack in turn called Rinehart a ‘generous and supportive person’ and thanked her for her support for Aussie Olympians.
