"There is simply no place in Australia for policies that deter exploration, investment and hard work," she told her audience. "Not if we want our standards of living to be maintained or improved. We live in a cost-competitive world; profits are only temporary. Canberra needs to recognise this."
This, of course, is the type of talk that makes Rinehart such a target in Canberra and elsewhere. She is almost naively puzzled by the reaction. Over that lunch, for example, she mocked accusations in the media that she was greedy and should pay more taxes rather than talk up her own self-interest. She had worked hard and looked after her children and grandchildren, she declared. "For the cost of building this trial mine alone, I could have bought myself a beautiful new private jet. But you've seen those trucks and shovels out there. Who would be paying the wages of these contractors if I had spent that on a luxurious private jet and two pilots instead?
"Indeed, for the further costs of paying my terrific staff, (who are) working hard on these projects and the consultant studies or the pre-feasibility study and the bankable feasibility study and now value engineering, (which) together employ hundreds of people, I could have gotten myself one or two beautiful yachts like many of my friends have and employed six more yacht crew and taken off. But I am pleased with my choices to invest in Australia, as I know that I have done something important for Australia's future."
Comments (2)
Nige Brooks·29 May 2012 - 08:25pmGood point Nigel - and we also need to bring up Wayne Swan's social compact.
Nigel Richards·29 May 2012 - 08:18pmHow good it would have been had she said also "Building mines is my passion. I've been living mining 15 hours per day for 25 years. Yes, I am selfish - I think about nothing else. And it is the passion and the self-interest of the builders, the innovators, the organisers, the composers, the artists and writers which carry a civilisation forward. Pursuing one's rational self-interest is what life requires, and on this scale it also happens to bring enormous benefits to others."
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