Statement from Mrs Gina Rinehart AO on Hope Downs 2 Announcement

Mrs Gina Rinehart AO:

“The Hope Downs 2 announcement with Hancock Prospecting’s partner Rio Tinto, is a time for us to reflect over the years we have looked forward to such development, of the benefit this investment and project will bring to local people approx. 1,200kms from Perth, and to many West Australian and Australian businesses supplying goods and services. 

Plus the tax and royalty revenues this Hope Downs project will add to federal and state governments, helping to pay for the much needed thousands of nurses and police, and their training too, our essential defence personnel, emergency services and much more. 

Without such investment and projects our living standards will suffer, and we will become a very different country. 

If we want to see projects like Hope Downs 2 continue to be built, Australia needs to honestly confront and urgently address the reasons for its recent years of declining investment. In the March 2025 quarter, private capital expenditure recorded its biggest contraction since the beginning of COVID.

We believe it is hence very necessary to encourage investment and companies like Rio, to invest in Australia.

It’s time not to be distracted by name calling like far right and other names and stick to the fact that investment is beneficial, and unfortunately declining in Australia. We need to stand up, ignore the truth twisters, truth hiders and truth avoiders, and to point out what’s needed if we want to see such investment bring jobs and benefits to many Aussies.

Such as significantly less tape and regulations and compliance, adding expense, wasting time and reducing productivity. The most massive of which is the trillions of taxpayers and shareholders money being wasted on net zero, adding expense not only to businesses, and resulting in even more record business failures, but expense for every Australian adult, and future Aussie adults, ensuring our taxes remain high.

Not forgetting even if Australia reduces its approx. one percent share of emissions, what benefit is there really in the overwhelming expense and consequences that such reduction brings.

The truth hiders are not telling us, manufacturing often requires 24-hour reliable electricity, such as dairy and aluminium, steel and AI, they ignore the consequences.

The truth avoiders are not telling us, that given the increasing introduction of renewables, businesses, even small ones, are being called up by bureaucrats demanding they stop using mains at times, so that thousands of homes in the cities don’t lose power at peak times.

The truth twisters are not telling us of the trillion plus of taxpayers’ dollars net zero will cost, or the further trillion businesses will have to pay for net zero.  We all lose when soaring energy prices damage our lives and competitiveness.

Chasing the unobtainable and expensive magic pudding that net zero is will negatively impact our way of life for generations to come. Why not let those who want to reduce their emissions do so, and who want net zero efforts, be the ones who pay for them. While Australia instead follows the lead of USA and other countries who put their citizens first. 

Thank you to our valued partner Rio, thank you for your investment in West Australia, and massive thanks to everyone who’s worked 1,200kms or more away from their home and families, to bring this much needed project to fruition. 

Next November 22, why not hold National Mining and Related Industries Day, at Hope Downs!”