Are billionaires who get rich digging up Australia's natural resources paying enough tax?

Gina Rinehart named world's richest woman

Family financial squabbles have done nothing to stop Gina Rinehart's relentless rise as the richest woman in Australia, and now the world.

Her $29 billion mining fortune is $3 billion greater than Christy Walton's, the widow whose inherited wealth springs from US retail giant Wal-Mart.

Ms Rinehart has ridden Australia's resources boom like no-one else; her wealth ballooning by an unparalleled $18.87 billion in the past year, according to BRW magazine's annual rich list.

That equates to $1,077,0540 every 30 minutes of every day.

The gargantuan increase flows from foreign investment in new projects, increased production and a recovery in the iron ore price over the past six months, BRW said.

And much more could be on the way.

"If the demand for natural resources remains strong, additional multi-billion mines are almost inevitable," BRW Rich List editor Andrew Heathcote said.

"There is a real possibility that Rinehart will become not just the richest woman in the world, but the richest person in the world."

That title is currently held by Mexican telecommunications mogul Carlos Slim Helu, with $69 billion.

"A $100 billion fortune is not out of the question for Rinehart if the resources boom continues unabated," Mr Heathcote said.

Three of Rinehart's four children - John Hancock, Bianca Rinehart and Hope Welker - launched a lawsuit against their mother in September in a bid to oust her as trustee of the multi-billion-dollar family trust established by her late father, Lang Hancock.

Unlike many wealthy heirs, Ms Rinehart has not just maintained her fortune but multiplied it many times over.

When she made her debut on the rich list after her father's death in 1992, her net wealth was estimated at $75 million.

Now she is worth 386 times as much.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-05-23/gina-rinerhart-worlds-richest-woman/402868...

Thats $18b away from every australians pocket.

Thanks Gina.  Thanks Tony.

i think people with lots of money should be taxed because im jealous and dont like people with lots of money

i would give her the night of her life for half of it or even less

... wrote on May 23^rd, 2012 at 6:08pm:

same

i'd do it for 5 grand tbh

id have no problem porking a fatty (and f*ck id give her the best time of her life too) for money

its just sex

... wrote on May 23^rd, 2012 at 6:08pm:




It'd need to be.......

It's not fair that anyone can get so rich using up our resources.

falah wrote on May 23^rd, 2012 at 10:16pm:



yes.  Starring alongside you if I'm not mistaken.