GINA RINEHART
Hancock prospecting executive chairwoman
“West Australians can look back with pride at our very hard working pioneers in our state’s early history, as they struggled to make a better life for their families and for the future.
They sure had it tough. But they armed themselves with common sense and lots of perseverance.
This included members from both sides of my family, generations of the Hancock’s and later, my grandfather, James Nicholas of Cobb & Co., who built many hundreds of miles of roads, without government assistance or tape, to enable his coaches to transport the equipment, supplies, passengers, gold, mail needed to open up areas outside of Perth.
In recent years, Western Australia with its world-leading mining operations has been the engine room of Australia. The mining industry contributes more than any other state to Australia’s exports and economic strength – our tax revenue helps to provide for thousands of nurses, police, our elderly, tertiary students, veterans, emergency services, sport facilities and more, across our state indeed country.
Without the revenue from our mines and energy projects, Australians living standards would be very different.
Sadly, this is not well recognised and government hurdles are increasing to slow investment and our industry and hence its many benefits.
While countries, like the USA under its current administration, now successfully welcome trillions of new investment, and others like Argentina and Saudi Arabia are welcoming and building up their mining industries. Perhaps we can learn from successful countries? Wishing all West Australians a very happy Western Australia Day.”
