JOIN US Mining tycoon Gina Rinehart on Wednesday warned Australia was becoming too expensive for multinational companies who could hire workers for two dollars a day in Africa, sparking criticism from Canberra.
In a video address to the Sydney Mining Club, the world’s richest woman said the nation must become more competitive as high costs force businesses offshore.
The iron ore magnate blamed the government's mining and carbon taxes, red tape and high wages for the economy’s “sluggish” performance. “Now, the evidence is unarguable — that Australia is indeed becoming too expensive and too uncompetitive to do export-oriented business,” she said.
“What was too-readily argued as the self-interested complaints of a greedy few is now becoming accepted as the truth, and more ominously is showing up in incontrovertible data.”
Last week Rinehart, head of resources giant Hancock Prospecting, told Australians to “spend less time drinking or smoking and socialising, and more time working” and on Wednesday said the country should not become complacent.
“Furthermore, Africans want to work, and its workers are willing to work for less than $2 per day. Such statistics make me worry for this country’s future.”
The comments drew criticism from Prime Minister Julia Gillard.
“It’s not the Australian way to toss people $2, to toss them a gold coin, and then ask them to work for a day,” Gillard said.