Gina Rinehart is at the centre of a storm over racist remarks her father made 38 years ago but several Indigenous leaders have hailed the billionaire for her ‘fanfare-free’ charity to Aboriginal Australia over the years.
Indigenous businessman Clinton Wolf, a director Madalah Ltd, Country Liberal Party Senator Jacinta Price and former West Australian Liberal Party leader Zak Kirkup each jumped to the mining magnate’s defence this week.
Mrs Rinehart’s company, Hancock Prospecting, announced it was withdrawing from a $15million sponsorship deal with Netball Australia ‘effective immediately’ on Saturday.
In a statement, the business said it ‘does not want to add to netball’s disunity problems’ after Indigenous Diamonds player Donnell Wallam said she was uncomfortable wearing the company’s logo.
Gina Rinehart’s (above) mining company has proudly supported several Indigenous charities since she took over in 1992
Mrs Rinehart’s company is a donor to Madalah, an Indigenous education charity, and provides scholarships for Indigenous students in WA (pictured, Madalah students)
Ms Wallam said her discomfort was caused by racist comments about ‘sterilising’ and ‘breeding out’ Indigenous populations made by Mrs Rinehart’s father, who founded the company, in 1984.
However, Netball Australia has faced harsh criticism for judging the history of the company in light of its significant contributions to Indigenous wellbeing since Mrs Rinehart took over in 1992.
Mr Wolf said Hancock, through its Roy Hill Community Foundation, has made monumental donations to his charity, Madalah, which provides scholarships for Indigenous education.
In a piece for the National Indigenous Times, Mr Wolf said Mrs Rinehart stepped in to help the ‘chronically underfunded’ project when state governments lacked.
Director Madalah Clinton Wolf (right) said Mrs Rinehart’s foundation ‘quickly committed to a multi-year, multimillion-dollar funding’ when state government couldn’t…
Source : dailymail
