Australia - The world’s richest woman, Australian mining
tycoon Gina Rinehart, urged those “jealous” of the wealthy to “spend less time
drinking” in an article blasted as “insulting” by Canberra on Thursday.
Rinehart, whose family iron ore prospecting fortune is worth
$30.1bn (R253bn), hit out at those envious of the rich.
“There is no monopoly on becoming a millionaire,” she wrote
in an industry magazine column.
“If you’re jealous of those with more money, don’t just sit
there and complain. Do something to make more money yourself – spend less time
drinking or smoking and socialising, and more time working.
"Become one of those
people who work hard, invest and build, and at the same time create employment
and opportunities for others.”
Rinehart blamed what she described as “socialist”,
anti-business policies for the plight of the poor, urging the government to
lower the minimum wage and taxes to promote investment.
Treasurer Wayne Swan said: “These… comments are an insult
to… Australian workers who go to work and slog it out to feed the kids and pay
the bills.”
Mining union president Tony Maher said: “At the same time as
trying to import cheap foreign labour and avoid paying tax, Rinehart claims
it’s millionaires and billionaires who are the greatest for social good.
"What planet is she living on? She should spend less time ranting and more time sharing.”
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