Gina Rinehart says Australia should be run like India and Trump's US

MINING tycoon Gina Rinehart has warned Malcolm Turnbull should follow the economic lead of India and Donald Trump’s US to reboot investment.

GINA Rinehart doesn’t mince her words.

Speaking at a resources conference in New Delhi last night, the billionaire said the Turnbull government should follow the economic lead of India’s Prime Minister Narenda Modi and US President Donald Trump to boost investment in Australia which is now down to record lows.

She said: “I keep reminding our governments that Australia needs to learn from the Indian leadership and now President Trump’s economic leadership also, by taking decisive steps to make doing business in high cost Australia easier, and rolling out the red carpet for investors,” The Australian reports.

She added: “There is one thing in particular that your Prime Minister said that really caught the world’s attention — ‘no red tape, only red carpet, is my policy towards investors’,”.

Mrs Rinehart said the title of her speech, “The emperor fiddles while Rome burns”, had no relevance to India but “sadly” did for Australia because of the policies of successive federal governments.

She added: “We need mountains moved in Australia and swamps drained”.

The speech has drawn the ire of former deputy PM and federal treasurer Wayne Swan.

In a series of tweets this morning Mr Swan said the mining magnate was a threat to democracy.

“Rinehart wants Aust run like India or Trump’s USA - We need to organise to defeat plutocrats like her who threaten democracy,” he says in one tweet.

1) Rinehart wants Aust run like India or Trump's USA - We need to organise to defeat plutocrats like her who threaten democracy #auspol

— Wayne Swan (@SwannyQLD) April 5, 2017

2) When the wealthy like Rinehart grab the public microphone the voice of the people can be drowned out #auspol

— Wayne Swan (@SwannyQLD) April 5, 2017

Malcolm Turnbull will visit New Delhi and Mumbai from Sunday to Wednesday.

His focus in the capital will be on deepening the political relationship with India and his personal ties with the country’s prime minister.

“With converging political, economic and strategic interests, we will use the meeting to strengthen our relationship even further for the benefit of both nations,” Mr Turnbull said.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi and I will discuss the enormous opportunities for collaboration between Australia and India.”

The talks are anticipated to encompass trade and economic issues, strategic ties, science and innovation, and energy.

India has designated Mr Turnbull’s trip an official state visit, so his time in New Delhi will also be marked with a ceremonial welcome at the presidential palace, a wreath laying at Gandhi’s memorial and a state banquet.

The prime minister’s focus in Mumbai will be on furthering business links between the two countries, and he is expected to meet several large companies, possibly including Adani, which is in the process of seeking approvals for a large coal mine in Queensland.

Two-way trade with India topped $19 billion in 2015/16 and both governments believe there is scope for it to grow significantly.

For more see The Australian.

Originally published as Gina Rinehart says Australia should be run like India and Trump's US