Gina Rinehart Hancock Prospecting supports Indigenous charities despite diamonds, netball and criticism

Gina Rinehart is at the center of a storm over racist remarks made by her father 38 years ago, but several Indigenous leaders have hailed the billionaire over the years for her “fanfare-free” charity for Australia’s Aboriginal people.

Indigenous businessman Clinton Wolf, a director of Madalah Ltd, Country Liberal Party Senator Jacinta Price and former West Australian Liberal Party leader Zak Kirkup both jumped in defense of the mining tycoon this week.

Ms Rinehart’s company, Hancock Prospecting, announced on Saturday it was withdrawing “effective immediately” from a $15 million sponsorship deal with Netball Australia.

In a statement, the company said it “does not want to contribute to netball’s disunity problems” after Indigenous Diamonds player Donnell Wallam said she was uncomfortable wearing the company’s logo.

Gina Rinehart’s mining company (above) has proudly supported several indigenous charities since taking it over in 1992

Ms Rinehart’s company is a donor to Madalah, an Indigenous education charity, and provides scholarships to Indigenous students in WA (pictured, Madalah students).

Ms Wallam said her unease was caused by racist comments about the “sterilization” and “outbreeding” of indigenous peoples by Ms Rinehart’s father, who founded the company, in 1984.

However, Netball Australia has been heavily criticized for judging the company’s history in light of its significant contributions to the welfare of indigenous people since Ms Rinehart took it over in 1992.

Mr Wolf said Hancock has made monumental donations to his charity Madalah, which provides scholarships for Indigenous education, through his Roy Hill Community Foundation.

In an article for the National Indigenous Times, Mr Wolf said Ms Rinehart stepped in to help the “chronically underfunded” project when state governments were absent.

Director Madalah Clinton Wolf (right) said Ms. Rinehart’s foundation “quickly committed to multi-year, multi-million dollar funding” when the state government could not deliver

Former West Australian Liberal Party leader Zak Kirkup (above) reminded Ms Rinehart’s critics that “very few brands” have a clear conscience

“The Roy Hill Community Foundation quickly committed to a multi-year, multi-million dollar funding agreement to ensure that many Indigenous children now have the opportunity they so desperately need,” he wrote.

“The Roy Hill Community Foundation’s Hanrine Futures Program, funded by the Hancock group of companies, offers long-term grants along with education, work experience and internships through to employment.

“Did Madalah agonize over partnering with Mrs. Rinehart and her companies? Absolutely not.’

“Madalah is proud to say that Ms. Gina Rinehart’s businesses are among Madalah’s major sponsors and supporters.”

He added that Ms Rinehart should be judged on her own actions and not her father’s.

“Since when do we judge someone by who their parents are or were or what they said?” said Mr. Wolf.

Sen. Jacinta Price (above) said it was “ridiculous” for Diamonds players to criticize Ms. Rinehart’s sponsorship due to her father’s racist comments in the 1980s

“It has been Madalah’s experience that Ms. Rinehart is a kind and generous person who genuinely cares about Madalah and his Indigenous students.

“Ms Rinehart should be applauded for her generous sponsorship of Netball Australia, Madalah and a host of other very worthy causes in dire need of financial assistance, which she supports without fanfare.

“While others have criticized her from the sidelines, she does actions with a good heart. Actions always speak louder than words.’

Zak Kirkup, a co-author of the National Indigenous Times and former leader of the West Australian Liberal Party, told those who boarded the train who criticized Ms Rinehart for remembering that “very few brands” have a clear conscience.

“Stop driving your Volkswagen or wearing Adidas because both were used by the Nazis,” he said.

Ms Rinehart’s company provides scholarships to Indigenous students through charity Madalah in WA (pictured Madalah students doing high ropes course)

“Don’t eat your KitKat because Nestle has a pretty terrible ethical history and put away your L’Oreal because it was invented by a fascist sympathizer.”

Senator Jacinta Price also called on Netball Australia to evaluate a sponsorship deal from Ms Rinehart’s company.

“It’s absolutely ridiculous that nowadays it’s okay to judge people by what their mother, father, uncle, aunt or someone they are related to did,” she told Sky News.

“If that were the case, there would be many people, including indigenous people, whom we would all look down on because of the actions or behavior of others.

“It’s absolutely ridiculous that this ever happened.

“(Ms. Rinehart) has been extremely generous because she cares about the welfare of Indigenous Australians.

Hancock Prospecting withdrew its $15 million sponsorship of the Diamonds after Indigenous player Donnell Wallam (above) said she was uncomfortable wearing the company’s logo

“To turn around and be like, ‘Oh wait, no, I don’t want to wear this because I’m choosing to get annoyed with comments from someone else that’s so many years old’… that’s ridiculous.”

She also addressed the controversy earlier on Facebook, telling Netball Australia: “You make your bed, you lie in it”.

“Unless you have a few million in your back pocket to support your sporting code, your woke self-esteem should be your private opinion and your private opinion only,” she said on Facebook.

“Sports codes, corporations and society in general must grow a backbone and stop serving self-righteous individuals on the basis that saying ‘no’ to their selfish demands could attract accusations of racism or bigotry.”

Senator Jacinta Price and Madalah Director Clinton Wolf slammed Netball Australia for criticizing its sponsorship of Hancock Prospecting for the Diamonds (above).