Governor-General David Hurley congratulated the winners. “Collectively the recipients, whose achievements span community service, science and research, industry, sport, the arts and more, represent the strength and diversity of Australia,” he said. “It has been a challenging couple of years and the recipients announced are a reminder and reflection of the richness of spirit, selflessness and good in our community.”
Gina Rinehart “singlehandedly saved our sport”, according to Olympic Swimmer Mitch Larkin. It comes after mining magnate Gina Rinehart was appointed as an Officer of the Order of Australia for services to mining, community and sport. “She’s such a caring and supportive lady,” Mr Larkin told Sky News host Rowan Dean.
Mrs Rinehart, who oversees the Hancock Prospecting mining empire that helped deliver a fortune estimated at $31 billion last year, and extensive cattle and pastoral interests, has been made an officer (AO) of the Order of Australia. After sponsors withdrew support for Swimming Australia in response to its poor showing at the London 2012 Olympics, Mrs Rinehart stepped up her funding. “This allowed many athletes myself included to see that there was a future career in swimming for us,” Ms Campbell said.
Hancock is one of the biggest taxpayers in Australia and has weathered the Covid pandemic. Its company profit for the year to June came after revenue for Mrs Rinehart’s Hancock rose to a record $16.6bn from $10.5bn a year earlier and the business paid a huge $2.7bn in federal corporate and state taxes. Last year was also a significant one away from mining for Mrs Rinehart, who watched strong performances by athletes in the four sports she backs at the Tokyo Olympic Games. Swimmers, rowers, beach volleyball players and artistic swimming representatives all receive direct support from Mrs Rinehart, as part of charitable and sponsorship pursuits the billionaire undertakes that also includes helping Cambodian girls out of poverty. All of the support has been recognised in this year’s Australia Day honours, with Mrs Rinehart gaining the title of Officer of the Order of Australia for distinguished service to the mining sector, to the community through philanthropic initiatives, and to sport as a patron.
Ms Rinehart was made an officer in the general division of the Order of Australia. The mining magnate was recognised for distinguished service to the mining sector, to the community through philanthropic initiatives, and to sport as a patron. Governor-General David Hurley welcomed the new additions to the honours list. “It has been a challenging couple of years and the recipients announced today are a reminder and reflection of the richness of spirit, selflessness and good in our community,” he said.
The mining magnate is one of just 25 people in the country to be appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in the general division. According to her citation, she has been recognised for “distinguished service to the mining sector, to the community through philanthropic initiatives and to sport as a patron”.
Wishing you a safe and happy Australia Day 2022.
Rinehart’s interests, largely driven by Roy Hill and her other iron ore investments delivered Hancock Prospecting a monster $7.3 billion profit in FY21 after iron ore prices scaled record highs. Mulga Downs is the latest in a string of mid-tier Pilbara iron ore proposals to emerge or reemerge in recent times, which notably include expansions at Hancock’s own Atlas Iron, the APIJV and MinRes’ (ASX:MIN) 30Mtpa Ashburton hub in the West Pilbara.
GINA Rinehart is set to add a new Pilbara iron ore mine to the portfolio of Hancock Prospecting, the first stand-alone iron ore operation to be built solely by the family mining company.
Mining magnate Gina Rinehart’s Hancock Prospecting has filed for environmental approval for a 20 million tonne per annum (mtpa) iron ore mine on her family’s Mulga Downs station in the Pilbara. The proposed area is located within an area of existing pastoral and mining land use with transport of the ore proposed via the Great Northern Highway to Port Hedland for export. According to the proposal filed with the Western Australian Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), facilities will be developed to support production of up to 20 million tonnes of ore per annum (Mtpa) over a
minimum 30-year period.
Miners could face the end of two years of prosperity where they remained almost untouched by COVID-19 within Premier Mark McGowan’s fortress WA when the state opens up in three weeks. Curtin University infectious disease expert Archie Clements likened WA’s isolated mining fly-in fly-out camps to islands that were “very vulnerable places during pandemics.” “They are good at keeping infection out, but if the infection gets in it tends to sweep through the entire population and incapacitate them,” he said.
Last year, Mineral Resources (MinRes) partnered with Hancock Prospecting and Roy Hill to investigate the development of a new iron ore export facility in Port Hedland, Western Australia. Stanley Point Berth 3 in South West Creek is shaping as a viable option for the major iron producers to expand their export capacities. The agreement would see Roy Hill provide services to MinRes and Hancock to develop and operate the facility, including rail haulage and port services. MinRes managing director Chris Ellison said collaboration of this kind would shape the future of Australia’s mining industry.
