An Australian billionaire has been mocked after complaining about the lack of places to moor superyachts on the Brisbane coast.
Gina Rinehart, an Australian mining magnate and heiress, made the comments at a planning meeting ahead of the 2032 Olympic Games in Brisbane.
People like medal-winning athletes and business leaders attended the Future Brisbane luncheon, but Rinehart’s message came via a video link where she was sat on the deck of a yacht.
Rinehart asked decision-makers to stop the event being “marred in tape and mediocrity” and pleaded for more mooring facilities.
She said: “For instance, we’ve just experienced days of very rough water from the southern Queensland border to the Capricorn Coast.
“Then when we arrived at the coast, not feeling that great after two very rough sleepless nights and a rough day, many yachts were outside the marinas given the lack of marinas.
"And let’s not forget superyachts that may want to visit from overseas, bringing passengers who would want to spend in Australia.
“These super yachts need marinas too - sadly lacking for vessels over 50m. It’s time for more marinas large enough to cater not only for small and medium yachts, but larger ones too.”
Predictably, Rinehart’s comments haven’t gone down too well, particularly given she is the richest person in Australia with a wealth of over $31.billion.
One person on Twitter wrote sarcastically: “Thank you gina rinehart for taking a stand for super yachts rights.”
Journalist David Milner posted a screenshot of her comments, along with a straight-faced emoji.
— David Milner (@DaveMilbo) December 2, 2021
It’s not the first time the billionaire has courted controversy, as earlier this year she recorded a video to be played to a Perth private school in which she questioned climate change.
