The world's richest woman isn't backing away from earlier remarks that poor Australians should smoke and drink less, in fact she's issued a new statement praising Africans who are willing to work for just $2 a day.
Australian mining tycoon Gina Rinehart made the comments in a rare video statement.
"We must get realistic, not just promote class warfare. Indeed if we competed at the Olympic Games as sluggishly as we compete economically there would be an outcry," said the woman who inherited her family's iron ore fortune.
She went on to urge her country to look to Africa for inspiration and guidance.
"Africans want to work and its workers are willing to work for less than $2 a day. Such statistics make me worry for this country's future," Rinehart said.
Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard quickly dismissed the comments.
"It's not the Australian way to toss people $2, a two-dollar gold coin, and then ask them to work for the day. We support proper Australian wages and decent working conditions for Australian people," Gillard told reporters.
Rinehart is worth a reported $30 billion, and in addition to being the richest person in Australia, is considered the richest woman on the planet.
She made headlines last week after writing a column in the magazine Australian Resource and Investment.
In the wide-ranging column, Rinehart decried Australia's "socialist" policies that hinder big business, and said high taxes and minimum wage were pricing homegrown businesses out of their own markets.
She also complained about “class warfare” and a sense of "entitlement" in poorer Australian states and said the country as a whole has lost its "roots: Our pride in building and providing for ourselves."
Rinehart is worth a reported $30 billion, and in addition to being the richest person in Australia, is considered the richest woman on the planet.
Though she inherited her family fortune, Rinehart said "there is no monopoly on becoming a millionaire" and urged others to effectively get off the couch and get rich, or stop complaining about their financial woes.
"If you're jealous of those with more money, don't just sit there and complain; do something to make more money yourself -- spend less time drinking, or smoking and socializing, and more time working," Rinehart said.
"Become one of those people who work hard, invest and build, and at the same time create employment and opportunities for others. Australia needs such people."
According to reports, Rinehart is embroiled in a legal dispute with her own children over a trust fund set up by her father. The children are fighting for control of the fund and have alleged financial mismanagement on the part of their mother.
Rinehart has publicly said if the children are not happy with the privileged lifestyle they live, they should make their own way in the world and not rely on the family fortune.
