One Nation leader Pauline Hanson questions ban on Commonwealth swimmers thanking Gina Rinehart

Pauline Hanson has entered the growing row over Gina Rinehart’s support of Australia’s swimmers, saying athletes should be free to publicly thank the mining billionaire despite warnings from Commonwealth Games Australia.

The intervention comes after Sky News Australia revealed swimmers competing in Glasgow were instructed not to acknowledge Ms Rinehart during media interviews.

The athletes were warned that doing so could place them in breach of their team agreements.

The One Nation leader said the direction was unfair given the role Ms Rinehart has played in supporting elite Australian swimmers for decades.

“For many of our Commonwealth and Olympic athletes, Gina Rinehart is the only reason they’ve been able to commit the time and effort to their chosen sport,” Senator Hanson said.

“And you know where that money came from? Hard work and mining — not windmills and solar panels.

“So if it’s good enough for swimmers to thank their family and coach when they win medals at this year’s Commonwealth Games, I think they’ve earned the right to thank whoever they like.”

Correspondence obtained by Sky News Australia showed some members of the Dolphins squad were frustrated after being told not to publicly refer to Ms Rinehart.

Senator Hanson said she had seen first-hand the relationship between Ms Rinehart and Australia’s swimmers and believed they should be free to acknowledge her contribution.

“I’ve spent time with some of our countries best swimmers in the presence of Gina Rinehart and the relationship between them is like that of family,” she said.

“They love her as much as she loves them.”

The restrictions to thank Ms Rinehart stems from the Australian Team Membership Agreement, which prevents athletes from promoting financial incentives that are not connected to official Games partners.

Commonwealth Games Australia said the rules were designed to protect organisations that financially support the Australian team and were not directed specifically at Ms Rinehart.

“Australia’s best swimmers have a history of always showing up to the Commonwealth Games and we have seen that again here at Glasgow 2026,” a Commonwealth Games Australia spokesperson said.

“The opportunity to compete in the green and gold is the biggest incentive in making this happen.

“We commend Ms Rinehart for her support of Australian sport, it is exemplary.

“The Australian Team partner family has committed millions of dollars to deliver our team to the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.

“Ms Rinehart and her companies are not Australian Team partners.”

The organisation said the clause in the athlete agreement exists to protect partners who have invested in the Australian team.

The warning came despite Hancock Prospecting announcing a lucrative medal bonus scheme for Australia’s swimmers.

Individual gold medallists will receive $20,000, silver medallists $15,000 and bronze medallists $10,000.

Athletes who break an individual world record will receive a further $30,000, while relay swimmers can also earn bonus payments.

A swimmer who wins three individual gold medals and breaks a world record could receive $90,000.

The payments are made directly to athletes by Hancock Prospecting after the Games.

Ms Rinehart has supported Australian swimming for more than 30 years and has provided financial backing to many of the country’s top athletes throughout their careers.

The latest bonus scheme is in addition to the ongoing support Hancock Prospecting provides to elite swimmers outside major competitions.

Earlier this week, Australian Chef de Mission Petria Thomas stressed the arrangement between Hancock Prospecting and the Dolphins was separate from Commonwealth Games Australia.

“That’s not something that Commonwealth Games Australia is involved in whatsoever,” Ms Thomas said.

“I mean, good luck to the swimmers, I guess. They’ve got someone backing that performance but that’s a separate matter for them.”