Bush Summit: Gina Rinehart launches defence strategy plan using resources revenue

Australia’s richest woman has unveiled a sensational plan to use resources revenue to fund military upgrades including an “Israeli”-type missile deflection dome and compulsory military training.

Australia’s richest woman has unveiled a sensational plan to use resources revenue to fund military upgrades including an “Israeli”-type missile deflection dome and compulsory military training.

Mining magnate Gina Rinehart launched her six-point defence strategy at the National Bush Summit in Townsville on Friday.

“You may ask, how are we going to pay for this? Simple, we should cut government wastage … and we should drill, baby, drill and dig, baby, dig,” she said.

During a lengthy video address she outlined her plan to counteract what she labelled the government’s lack of preparedness towards our country’s defence.

“If we don’t have a country, what future do we have?” she said.

The first two points were to ensure Australia’s sea lanes and ports remain open and the need to order “many, many” war drones.

Billionaire Gina Rinehart, chairman of Hancock Prospecting. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Phil Gostelow

“If we don’t keep our sea lanes and ports open, how are we to continue trade and receive revenue? How are we to get our fuel? How are we to get defence supplies and equipment from our allies? How can AUKUS even function? How can we rely on our allies?” Mrs Rinehart said.

The executive chairwoman of Hancock Prospecting said that a defence system similar to that of the “Israeli dome, with its four layers of defence missiles” should be installed on islands around export hubs.

“Set up some of the best defences currently available across at least our major ports and major airports in the north, northwest and northeast,” Mrs Rinehart said.

In her fourth step, Mrs Rinehart said the 4.5 billion ship maintenance facility plans to the north so that our few navy vessels don’t have to waste weeks to travel to and fro for maintenance.”

“We have too little navy for such down times,” she said.

She also said ADF should make a complete move to the north, accompanied by the establishment of a refinery to construct the required military equipment and the installation of a widespread fitness standard throughout the government organisation.

“Wouldn’t that provide a much-needed boost to this region if industries needed for our defence could, with greatly reduced government-taken tax, spring to life around the Townsville region,” Ms Rinehart said.

“Given the decline in our military personnel … make military training compulsory for all biological men in the Defence Department, under say 53 (years old) with voluntary training for biological women.”