Celebrating Regional Achievement and Enterprise in WA

Hancock Prospecting is proud to continue its longstanding support of the WA Regional Achievement Awards in 2026, recognising the hardworking people and businesses  contributing to the living standards and opportunities  of those in regional West Australia.

Small business, often run by mums and dads, is the largest private employer in Australia, giving opportunities to Australians throughout our country, its contribution is hence very worthy of recognition. 

For our Executive Chairman, Mrs Gina Rinehart AO, and Hancock Prospecting, supporting the development of our north and acknowledging those helping contribute to the living standards and opportunities in regional Australia remains especially important. 

Mrs Rinehart was in the Pilbara as a child in the early days before the massive investment of large companies in the Pilbara, and well remembers the changes and opportunities such investment made, more airstrips, more flights, more freezer trucks and refrigerated goods, better roads, hotels, restaurants, hospitals, and her mothers favourites, air conditioned shopping centres and even a hair dresser! (Mrs Rinehart’s childhood favourites were the movies loaned from a nearby rail camp and real icecreams at Tom Price that arrived thanks to this investment!) This all started from small business, in particular the founder of the then small company, Hancock Prospecting, and his family’s then agriculture pursuits. 

These awards provide a welcome opportunity to recognise the small businesses, their initiative, determination, and years of effort behind achievements that benefit regional Australians.

The Rinehart Development of Northern Regional WA Award celebrates those making an important contribution to the region’s future through their businesses, investment, and leadership. Whether creating jobs, training young people, expanding local services or building businesses, their efforts help more Australians find opportunities to live, work and support their families in our north.

We extend our congratulations to SOAK in Dampier, this year’s recipient of the Rinehart Development of Northern Regional WA Award.

With the Hancock family’s own history firmly connected to the Pilbara, we understand the hard work and perseverance involved in regional businesses, and the importance of letting those prepared to take on that challenge, to be able to do so with minimal government, tape, charges, paperwork and approvals. The pioneering spirit that helped build our state was not saddled with excess government. Currently many in regional areas are struggling, from agriculture especially to all the businesses they support, and businesses are failing. It would be a massive and much needed boost to those in country areas, if state taxes that were meant to go decades ago when GST came in, licence fees, payroll tax and stamp duties, were abolished, and the personal income tax scheme above the 26th parallel, instituted decades ago, could be brought up to date, so that those working above the 26th parallel, could have this intended benefit. These measures would help  the struggling agriculture industry, struggling businesses, and help the fantastic people willing to work hard and contribute to the places they call home.

On behalf of Mrs Rinehart and everyone at Hancock Prospecting, congratulations to all of this year’s award recipients and nominees and thank you for your contributions to regional WA.