Article by Steve Jackson, courtesy of Daily Mail Australia.
Gina Rinehart will celebrate Australia Day surrounded by family in Washington DC before attending an exclusive soiree in honour of one of the nation’s greatest sporting exports.
The billionaire magnate has been in the American capital for the past week since travelling to the U.S. to celebrate Donald Trump‘s return to office and attend his inauguration last Monday.
The fierce patriotic businesswoman said her family has a proud tradition of celebrating Australia Day and, even though she was spending the national holiday abroad, she will be marking the date with her loved ones.
She will then head to the Australian Embassy in the evening where she will help laud former pro golfer and fellow Trump fan Greg Norman’s achievements ahead of his 70th birthday next month.
As a special treat for everyone back in her West Australian hometown, Mrs Rinehart said her company would also be putting on a festive riverside fireworks and drone show in recognition of Australia Day.
‘Celebrating Australia Day is an important tradition across the Hancock businesses and subsidiaries,’ Mrs Rinehart told Daily Mail Australia.
‘It’s a time to reflect on our past, celebrate our achievements, and look ahead to the future.
‘This year, many of our staff will join more than 120,000 West Australians along the Swan River for a spectacular fireworks and drone display presented by Hancock Prospecting and the City of Perth to celebrate Australia Day.
‘As for me, I will be celebrating with my family, surrounded by the Australian flag, before later attending an Australian Embassy function in the USA to honour the achievement of a pro Trump golfer, Greg Norman.’
The high-profile philanthropist, who privately spends millions of dollars sponsoring the nation’s elite swim team, as well as the country’s indoor and beach volleyball, rowing and artistic swimming athletes, has long been championed the national unity and pride provided by the country’s sporting greats.
Mrs Rinehart said she would be spending Australia Day reflecting on all the people who made the country great through sacrifice and toil – along with the brave national servicemen and women who dedicate their lives to protecting it.
‘On this Australia Day, we pause to honour the individuals who have helped to build our nation,’ she said.
‘Our pioneers who overcame great adversity , including my mother’s father, James Nicholas, who contributed to the opening of the East and then West through expanding Cobb&Co services, building thousands of miles of roads, dozens of inns, to enable transporting people, equipment, gold, mail, water and supplies into the gold regions and into our outback, making living and working there possible.
‘We think of the small businessmen and women of Australia who risk it all to create their companies , the biggest private employers in our country, many of whom are currently struggling, with high costs and excessive government tape.
‘We thank all the great contributors to our standard of living, including the primary industries that make up the bulk of our exports, and invest in regional Australia, providing opportunities for local people that otherwise would not exist.
‘We should thank our Defence Force for their commitment to keep us safe. We are forever indebted to the veterans and those currently serving who have sacrificed so much to enable our privileges and freedom.’
Mrs Rinehart also called on the government to urgently tackle the ongoing cost-of-living crisis by proactively axing taxes while offering greater support to pensioners – saying there was no better time than Australia Day to act in the interest of all Australians.
‘I’ll also be thinking of those struggling with the cost-of-living crisis, and hoping our government relieves this crisis,’ she said.
‘Not by handouts, but by promptly eliminating excise tax on fuel, which would help not only those with cars, but also lower the costs for goods and services that need to be transported and or manufactured, hence helping every Australian.
‘This would make a fantastically positive announcement for all Australians struggling with the escalating costs crisis, if the government chose to announce this relief on Australia Day.
‘And I’ll be thinking of the pensioners, veterans, tertiary students and marginally disabled, limited by bureaucracy from working as much as they may chose, trapped in the misery of poverty.
‘This tragedy for millions of Australians struggling worse now given the cost-of-living crisis, should not continue.
‘On Australia Day wouldn’t it be fantastic if our government announced, there would no longer be any upper limit on how much pensioners, veterans, tertiary students and marginally disabled worked?
‘No more forms to fill in for the privilege of working, no longer any bureaucratic procedures to report hours worked, simply, pay income tax on their earnings like the rest of Australians do.’
Finally, Mrs Rinehart said she was hoping everyone from every walk of life had the chance to celebrate the amazing great southern land on Sunday.
‘I’m wishing everyone a proud, safe and happy Australia Day!’ she said.
