As the election approaches, Australia's richest woman says she wants Trump like reforms

Gina Rinehart, a mining magnate in Australia, is calling on the country to adopt a Donald Trump-style of leadership and cut government spending while increasing defence expenditures and energy security. The country will be voting this weekend.

Rinehart, a vocal Trump supporter, attended the inauguration party of President Trump in Mar-a-Lago, Florida, in January. She said that Australia would benefit more from adopting a similar strategy to "whine and complain" about Trump's policies.

Rinehart, in an exclusive statement sent to, said that Australia must cut its costs and reduce government waste, as well as the cost of regulations, compliance, licenses, and government paperwork ...,".

Rinehart, Australia's richest woman with a $30 billion net worth according to Forbes, is the country's wealthiest person. Hancock Prospecting Pty Ltd., her flagship mining company is one of the largest donors to Peter Dutton's Liberal Party. According to Australian Electoral Commission figures, donations to the party in 2024 will have more than tripled to A$500,000 (320,000).

Concerns about the impact of Trump's tariffs, which are a stop-start system and his volatile diplomacy, on the world have hurt Dutton's conservative alliance's prospects ahead of the 3 May vote. In the final stretch of campaigning, polls showed the centre-left Labor Party led by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is gaining ground.

This trend is similar to what was seen this week in Canada, where the Liberals of Prime Minister Mark Carney staged a major comeback, fueled by a backlash towards Trump.

Rinehart noted that the impact of Trump's tariffs may not be seen for several months, pointing out that "more than 75 nations had requested to meet with U.S. Administration Officials to negotiate tariffs."

Dutton's Office and the Labor Party did not respond to comments.

Rinehart’s support for Dutton and Australia’s populist conservative movement has resonances with the support that Elon Musk gave to Trump, now a top adviser to the President.

Rinehart did not seek any Australian government position in public, but she has called for a Department of Government Efficiency similar to Musk's DOGE. She wants Australia to pull out of the Paris Agreement in order to combat climate changes, just as Trump did at his first term.

Dutton led the opinion polls when Trump was inaugurated as president in January. Australians were angry about the high cost of housing and living.

Dutton criticized public servants who were hired to be "culture, diversity, and inclusion advisers" in the week following the arrival of Trump and Musk at the White House. Later, he promised to create a Ministry of Government Efficiency. However, he has played down the comparisons between Trump and his policies.

Rinehart claimed, without providing details, that "the Left" in Australia was resisting cuts to the public sector because they were benefiting from bureaucratic generosity.

It's no surprise that the Left is against Elon Musk, and DOGE. Wouldn't they want to minimize this drain on taxpayers? No, not those who have their noses in the trough. Not those who are worried about having to repay money that was wrongfully taken or going to jail.

Dutton proposed to cut around 41,000 jobs that are not in frontline government in Canberra. Labor claimed this figure was impossible, given the number jobs in the capital that fit the criteria.

FOSSIL FUELS DEFENCE BOOST

Rinehart is a strong advocate of fossil fuels, which she believes will increase energy security and reduce prices. She was photographed during the Trump election campaign wearing a sign reading "Drill Baby Drill" and smiling.

Dutton is a strong supporter of natural-gas, promising to encourage more production. He also wants to introduce nuclear energy, as opposed to Labor, which relies on renewables and battery technology to reduce power prices and to meet carbon obligations.

The Paris Accord is "probably the largest single government tape" that should be put on hold so that our economy can recover. Rinehart added.

She added, "Could the American public be ahead of us? They understand that cutting back on the mining and exporting of fossil fuels will bring less revenue, fewer jobs, and fewer opportunities."

Dutton responded to questions last month that the Liberal Party's policies on gas had not gone as far as Rinehart's, yet at the same time, had not abandoned a commitment towards net zero emissions. He said: "We will have points of disagreement with many people. But that does not mean it impacts your relationship or friendship with different businesspeople."

Rinehart called on Australia, an important U.S. ally in security matters, to spend at least 5% of their gross domestic product (GDP) on national security. This is in line with Trump's policy.

Labor has committed to increase defence spending by A$50billion over the next decade. However, it would need to double its current expenditure to reach a 5% target.

Rinehart’s Hancock Prospecting disclosed in February for the first time an approximately $1.3 billion U.S. Investment Portfolio, with the majority of its holdings being in companies that are involved in energy, rare earths, and mining - all vital for defence and aerospace technology.

The 10 largest holdings are up by 2.3% during the first quarter of this year, compared to the S&P500's 5.5% decline. This is largely due to the 57% increase in shares of rare-earths producer MP Materials.

Rinehart stated that "the Americans may be ahead of our recognition of the fact they want strong leadership to provide defence of their nation and people, something President Trump is busy doing."

"They may not want to risk their taxpayers' dollars or the lives of their defence personnel to help allies that don't get them, who whine, complain and worse, who are rude to them and do nothing to provide their defense." Reporting by Melanie Burton, Melbourne. Editors: Praveen Menon, Lincoln Feast.

(source: Reuters)