Source : Perth Now news
Gina Rinehart has unveiled a new set of refurbished beach houses dedicated to housing homeless veterans, which she has named after her “hero” and accused war criminal Ben Roberts-Smith.
Ms Rinehart’s company Hancock Prospecting bought a residential complex near Scarborough Beach, in Perth’s west, as part of a $200m commitment to house homeless veterans.
The Scarborough building is named the Ben Roberts-Smith Beach Houses, in honour of the Victoria Cross recipient.
“The beach houses are in Scarborough, not far from the SAS, where Ben served and carry the name of Ben Roberts-Smith VC, MG,” Mrs Rinehart said.
“He is a West Australian, former SAS soldier, who is looked up to by Australians across our country, and who served our nation with extraordinary courage.
“He is a hero.”
Mr Roberts-Smith, who has been named Australia’s most decorated living soldier, is facing five counts of war crime murder relating to his deployment in Afghanistan.
It is alleged he took part in the killings of five unarmed men while was deployed in Afghanistan between 2009 and 2012.
Mr Roberts-Smith has yet to enter pleas to any of the charges but has long maintained his innocence over the allegations.
The allegations were the subject of his unsuccessful Federal Court defamation suit against Nine Newspapers.
Mr Roberts-Smith has persistently denied any wrongdoing and the Federal Court findings against him were made to the civil standard of the balance of probabilities, which is below the criminal standard of beyond a reasonable doubt.
Mrs Rinehart has been critical of the decision to prosecute Mr Roberts-Smith.
“I don’t understand how it can be justified to spend more than $300 million to try for years to bring SAS veterans, who have served our country, towards criminal proceedings, and most recently the arrest of Ben,” she previously said.
“As the recently passed, Brigadier George Mansford succinctly stated: The oath to serve your country did not include a contract for the normal luxuries and comforts enjoyed within our society. On the contrary, it implied hardship, loyalty and devotion to duty.”
Australia’s wealthiest person is seeking more apartment blocks across Australia to provide short and long-term accommodation to help about 6000 homeless veterans.
A refurbished apartment block in South Perth will open next month and another four buildings are being sought in Queensland and Western Australia.
Another $10m housing complex to house veterans has been operating in South Perth since September 2024.
Mrs Rinehart said in a statement veterans did not need more communities or empty words but accommodation and people willing to act.
“I hope this accommodation, even more desperately needed as we move into the winter months, will bring some comfort to our struggling veterans, who after sacrificing so much for us are owed a great debt by this nation,” she said.
“No veteran who has worn our nation’s uniform should be left without the dignity of a safe place to sleep, and somewhere to call home. It is a national disgrace that we leave approximately 6000 veterans to sleep in the streets.”
Veteran Housing Australia Chief Executive Officer Rob Miller said when a veteran slept rough or faced homelessness, the first and most important step was a safe place to stay.
“These homes will provide exactly that,” he said.
“This is not just about bricks and mortar. It is about giving veterans stability, dignity and the chance to get back on their feet with the right support around them.
A veteran said they were so grateful for the warm welcome and were overwhelmed to have a beautiful home and house-warming gifts to make it really comfortable.
“Thank you and everyone that helped so much,” a veteran said.
