Statement by Mrs Gina Rinehart AO | Sydney Morning Herald: Gina Rinehart, sanctioned by Putin, calls on Australia to ramp up defences

Statement by Mrs Gina Rinehart AO 

“The terrible war in Ukraine, is a stark reminder for Australians, that we should be more determined to build up our defence, more determined to be more self sufficient, including in what is needed for our defence, plus critical minerals and medicines, and not take measures to disrupt our industries, hospitals and homes, with measures that hamper production and make our fuel and electricity expensive and or unreliable. In my view, we should be rushing to cut government tape to make all this possible, and to make more investment and production possible as quickly as we can, to build up our revenue, so that we can defend ourselves.

We urgently need millions of smart mines in our thousands of kilometres of otherwise indefensible oceans, and capable missiles, war drones, and more. We need far more people in our defence force, and our vets able to help with hr and perform such training and undertake other suitable military jobs, without losing their pensions, and without onerous paperwork.

Much as I have very nice Russian friends and enjoyed very much  my 2 visits to st Petersburg, and would love to revisit, I would not wish to do so if not welcomed, or if I have concerns for my safety.  If speaking out in the manner above means I can never visit Russia again in my lifetime, so be it, because it’s far more important for Australia, that action is taken as outlined above, so I will continue to voice my concerns.

I hope other Australians also consider very very carefully any visits to Russia.”

 

Article by Amelia McGuire and Rob Harris courtesy of The Sydney Morning Herald.

Gina Rinehart says that while she has good Russian friends, she does not mind if she never returns to Russia.

Mining magnate Gina Rinehart has responded to news she has been sanctioned by Russia by issuing what amounts to a call to arms, saying “we urgently need millions of smart mines in our thousands of kilometres of otherwise indefensible oceans, and capable missiles, war drones, and more”.

One of 121 people in Australia who have just been indefinitely banned from Russia by the Kremlin’s foreign ministry, Rinehart has released a statement calling for Australia to build up its defences.

“Much as I have very nice Russian friends and enjoyed very much my two visits to St Petersburg, and would love to revisit, I would not wish to do so if not welcomed, or if I have concerns for my safety. If speaking out in the manner above means I can never visit Russia again in my lifetime, so be it,” she said.

Late on Thursday (AEST), Russia’s Foreign Ministry posted an eclectic list of sanctioned Australians, including media executives, mining bosses, academics, defence officials and journalists, including the editors of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.

A statement on the ministry’s website [mid.ru] said those named had supported Australia’s “Russophobic agenda”.

Nobody on the new list openly expressed any dismay about their new status.

Indeed, many have proclaimed it “a badge of honour”, including Fortescue’s founder Andrew ‘Twiggy’ Forrest and South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas, who said he thought his Lithuanian heritage prompted the sanction.

“Oh I was a bit proud,” the premier said as he arrived in Canberra for national cabinet.

“Look, it’s fair to say that popping into Russia wasn’t on my to-do list. Our tenth wedding anniversary celebrations weren’t planned to be spent in Siberia so I’m not too fussed.

South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas is the first Australian state premier sanctioned by Russia. CREDIT:GETTY IMAGES.

Malinauskas was the only elected official on the latest list, although 228 Australian politicians and officials were banned from Russia in April, including Anthony Albanese and the then-prime minister Scott Morrison, in retaliation for Canberra’s sanctions.

Speaking at the Financial Times Hydrogen Summit just hours after he was slapped with sanctions by the Kremlin, Forrest said he would wear his sanction as a badge of honour.

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