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Gina Rinehart is at the center of a storm over racist comments her father made 38 years ago, but several Indigenous leaders have praised the billionaire over the years for her ‘fanfare-free’ charity for Aboriginal Australia.
Indigenous businessman Clinton Wolf, director Madalah Ltd, senator of the country’s Liberal Party Jacinta Price and former Western Australian Liberal Party leader Zak Kirkup each jumped to the mining magnate’s defense this week.
Ms Rinehart’s company, Hancock Prospecting, announced on Saturday it was withdrawing from a $15 million sponsorship deal with Netball Australia “effective immediately.”
In a statement, the company said it “does not want to contribute to the division of netball” after Indigenous Diamonds player Donnell Wallam said she felt uncomfortable wearing the company’s logo.
Gina Rinehart’s mining company (above) has proudly supported several Indigenous charities since she took over in 1992
Ms. Rinehart’s company donates to Madalah, an Indigenous education charity, and provides scholarships to Indigenous students in WA (photo, Madalah Students)
Ms Wallam said her discomfort was caused by racist comments about the “sterilization” and “breeding” of indigenous peoples by Ms Rinehart’s father, who founded the company, in 1984.
However, Netball Australia has faced harsh criticism for assessing the company’s history in light of its significant contributions to the well-being of Indigenous people since Ms Rinehart took over the company in 1992.
Mr Wolf said Hancock, through the Roy Hill Community Foundation, has made monumental donations to his charity, Madalah, which provides grants for Indigenous education.
In one piece for the National Indigenous TimesMr Wolf said Ms Rinehart stepped in to help the “chronically underfunded” project when state governments failed.
Director Madalah Clinton Wolf (right) said Ms. Rinehart’s foundation was “quickly committed to multi-year multi-million dollar funding” when the state government failed to deliver
Former Western Australian Liberal Party leader Zak Kirkup (above) reminded Ms Rinehart’s critics that ‘very few brands’ have a clear conscience
“The Roy Hill Community Foundation quickly committed to a multi-year, multi-million dollar funding scheme to ensure that many Indigenous children would now have the opportunity they so desperately needed,” he wrote.
The Roy Hill Community Foundation’s Hanrine Futures Program, funded by the Hancock Group of Companies, will provide long-term scholarships, as well as training, work experience and internships to employment.
“Is Madalah concerned about working with Ms. Rinehart and her companies? Absolutely not.’
“Madalah is proud to say that Ms. Gina Rinehart’s businesses are among Madalah’s most important sponsors and supporters.”
He added that Ms. Rinehart should be judged by her own actions rather than those of her father.
“Since when do we judge someone for who their parents are or were or what they said?” said Mr. Wolf.
Senator Jacinta Price (above) said it was “ridiculous” for Diamonds players to criticize Ms. Rinehart’s sponsorship based on racist comments her father made in the 1980s
“Madalah’s experience is that Ms. Rinehart is a kind and generous person who genuinely cares about Madalah and her native students.
“Mrs Rinehart deserves applause for her generous sponsorship of Netball Australia, Madalah and a host of other charities in urgent need of financial support, which she supports without hesitation.
“While others have criticized her from the sidelines, she acts with a good heart. Actions always speak louder than words.’
colleague National Indigenous Times writer and former leader of the Western Australian Liberal Party Zak Kirkup told those who jumped aboard and criticized Ms Rinehart to remember that “very few brands” have a clear conscience.
“Stop driving your Volkswagen or wearing Adidas because they were both used by the Nazis,” he said.
Ms. Rinehart’s company provides scholarships to Indigenous students through WA charity Madalah (photo, Madalah students doing a high ropes course)
“Don’t eat your KitKat because Nestlé has a pretty terrible ethical history and don’t put your L’Oréal down because it was invented by a fascist sympathizer.”
Senator Jacinta Price also called on Netball Australia to review a sponsorship deal from Ms Rinehart’s company.
“It’s absolutely ridiculous that people think it’s okay these days to judge individuals based on what their mother, father, uncle, aunt or anyone they are related to was doing,” she told Sky News.
“If that were the case, there would be a lot of people, including indigenous peoples, that we would all look down on because of someone else’s actions or behavior.
“It’s just ridiculous that this ever happened.
‘(Mrs Rinehart) has been extremely generous as she cares about the well-being of Indigenous Australians.
Hancock Prospecting withdrew its $15 million sponsorship from the Diamonds after native player Donnell Wallam (above) said she felt uncomfortable wearing the company logo
“To turn around and decide ‘oh wait, no, I don’t want to wear this because I choose to be upset by someone else’s comments no matter how long ago’… it’s ridiculous.”
She also weighed in on the controversy earlier on Facebook, telling Netball Australia ‘you make your bed, you lie in it’.
“Unless you have a few million in your back pocket to support your sports code, your waking self-esteem should be your private opinion and only your private opinion,” she said on Facebook.
“Sports codes, corporations and society at large need to get a backbone and stop giving in to self-righteous individuals on the basis that saying ‘no’ to their selfish demands could lead to accusations of racism or bigotry.”
Senator Jacinta Price and Madalah director Clinton Wolf criticized Netball Australia for criticizing Hancock’s sponsorship Prospecting for the Diamonds (above)