Australia should learn from the example five world leaders have set in reforming their countries by putting a pink bulldozer through wasteful governments and defying woke ideology. That's according to mining magnate Gina Rinehart who hailed the leaders of Argentina, Italy, Hungary and Slovakia, and the Canadian opposition leader, in a recent speech to supporters.
Less than three weeks out from the federal election, Mrs Rinehart – the executive chairwoman of Hancock Prospecting and richest person in the country – urged Australians to look to the examples of Javier Milei, Giorgia Meloni, Victor Orban, Robert Fico and Pierre Poilievre.
In her address, Mrs Rinehart quoted extracts of recent speeches delivered by these leaders at length. Some of what they say will sound familiar to Australian voters while other perspectives are more novel.
Mr Milei advocates an Elon Musk, DOGE-like approach to government, 'going through office by office, keeping what works and serves, and discarding the rest.'
The Argentinian leader also issues a rousing call for the world to resist the state's influence on art and culture in universities and art subsidies.
Effortlessly stylish Ms Meloni denounces the far Left of politics for sabotaging the Western world from within with wokeness and cancel culture, and warns that conservatives will 'never be ashamed of who we are'.
Mr Poilievre urges his country to 'axe the carbon tax' and embrace a 'technology not taxes' approach to addressing global warming – both phrases previously used by (or perhaps borrowed from) prime minister Tony Abbott – and speaks of his plan to unleash 'massive' economic growth in Canada.
And Eastern European leaders Mr Orban and Mr Fico speak critically about migration and stress the importance of preserving national sovereignty.
Less than three weeks out from the federal election, Gina Rinehart – the executive chairwoman of Hancock Prospecting and richest person in the country – urged Australians to look to the examples of Javier Milei, Giorgia Meloni, Victor Orban, Robert Fico and Pierre Poilievre. Mrs Rinehart is pictured at the Paris Olympics (above)
The achievements of these leaders are a reminder, Mrs Rinehart says, that 'success is possible' Down Under.
'Let's move towards protecting our country from the dangerous course it is on.'
Mrs Rinehart's speech in full:
We Are At a Time When History is Changing its Course
Around the world, there are many leaders who value common sense, who value a small government not intruding into our lives and costing us and our businesses hugely.
So, I thought I'd take you on a tour of other nations, via the speeches of their leaders, and how they can inspire us here in Australia.
Let's start with A, A for Argentina, and their magnificent, brave, sensible leader, President Javier Milei.
The following is taken from his powerful address recently at CPAC USA, which I was fortunate to attend.
Mining magnate Gina Rinehart with Argentinian President Javier Milei, who advocates an Elon Musk , DOGE-like approach to government, 'going through office by office, keeping what works and serves, and discarding the rest'
'History happens in stages, moments in which the spirit and the idea materialise in a person or in a group of people, sometimes close, sometimes with kilometres of distance between them, which, I imagine, would be similar to the images we see in neural networks of the human brain.
'Today we are in one of those moments in which history is changing its course. We are seeing in real time the destiny of countries around the world branching towards a new path, different from the place where the out-of-touch political establishment of our countries were taking us.
'Today we are witnessing a moment when the long march of the state over the individual is being rejected, in country after country.'
Doesn't he so elegantly express this incredibly special moment of history we are now witnessing from afar.
He explains: 'We must understand where we stand and what we are up against in order to know where we want to go. Throughout the world, Western societies face the same problem and the same negative enemy: a political class that extracts more and more resources from its citizens through taxes, in order to implement a model of bureaucratic expansion.
'A political class who does not possess a crystal ball but that seeks to regulate every aspect of people's lives, honouring one of the maxims of Benito Mussolini's fascism: 'Within the State, everything; outside the State, nothing; and nothing against the State.'
'This political class or bureaucracy, is an extended caste whose members, beyond superficial differences, share the fundamental idea of the implementation of the advance of the State over individuals, over you and me.
'In the United States, there was the illusion of bipartisanship, with a Democratic Party that set the agenda and a Republican Party incapable of confronting it... until the arrival of President Donald Trump.
'The challenge before us is not for traditional politicians who have long lived their lives off the system.'
Mr Milei (above) believes 'the political class is dedicated to perpetuating problems and thus living off them forever. That is why they love creating new problems, installing them from their propaganda machines to then offer themselves as a solution'
Then President Milei explains the insidious creep through our art and culture.
'The modern State has more tools, which have grown in sophistication over time. We are not talking about an obvious State, like the neo-fascist or communist one, but rather a subtle and insidious State, which advances on the individual through art, propaganda and cultural infiltration.
'I am talking about the financing of academia, encouraging the elaboration of studies that justify the implementation of interventionist public policies, and the direction of media outlets. I am talking about the subsidies, to art, to culture, to produce propaganda.
'And governments with discriminatory aspirations, among many other aberrations, including the agenda of climate paranoia, the excesses of gender ideology and the lab research that led to the creation of COVID.
'In short, I am talking about a global network of influence and opinion paid for with its citizens' taxes, a propaganda apparatus unprecedented in human history, perhaps the largest political scandal we have ever seen.
'The political class is dedicated to perpetuating problems and thus living off them forever. That is why they love creating new problems, installing them from their propaganda machines to then offer themselves as a solution.'
President Millei could have been talking about us!
He says: 'The political class is dedicated to perpetuating problems and thus living off them forever. That is why they love creating new problems, installing them from their propaganda machines to then offer themselves as a solution.'
Mrs Rinehart pictued with Roy Hill CEO Gerhard Veldsman (front right) and employees
You are likely to know that after years of the government restricting investment in gas development in Victoria, a government body has come up with an absurd and very costly plan, that being, a billion or likely more dollars of taxpayers money to be spent towards facilities to receive LNG from overseas, to supplement the shortage of gas it has caused, and the looming electricity shortage crisis. The absurdity of Australia exporting the gas, bringing it back as LNG from overseas, with all the huge extra cost that entails. A very costly solution to the shortage crisis it has caused.
President Millei continues: 'Today, those of us who want to dismantle this dangerous or insane system are called anti-democratic. But, again, this is a misrepresentation of words, something very typical of the left.
'They do not call democracy the government of the people by the people, but the paradigm of unlimited state expansion that they themselves administer. For them, democracy only exists if they win what they want, so they can subject the people to their regulations.
'That is why we have put effort into identifying it, because you cannot fight against what you do not know. Having a well-defined enemy is a fundamental aspect of our battle.
'That is why we are passing the chainsaw through the sectors and powers of the State that we consider superfluous, redundant, unnecessary or directly harmful to our citizens.'
President Milei continues sharing his action plan, an action plan we surely need here.
'Shrinking the State is cutting off the hose to the State's entrenched bureaucracies, fuelled by taxpayers' money to keep us subjugated. They exercise fierce resistance to this change.
'Our method is similar to that of our dear friend Elon Musk: going through office by office, keeping what works and serves, and discarding the rest. That's why I gave him a chainsaw (at the conference).
'With us, no one who cannot justify the cost of their salary in taxes is safe. Many of them will have to return to the private sector and earn a living by offering their goods and services in the market, just like the taxpayers they have lived off for so many years.'
And President Milei leaves with us these important thoughts:
'It is essential that the nations that have embraced the ideas of freedom remain united and collaborate with each other. We must form an alliance of free nations, because, as I have said on other occasions, organised evil can only be defeated by organised good.
'Only in this way can we return to our path of greatness as a civilization, honouring our ancestors, who gave their lives to see a free world and a prosperous humanity.
'Long live freedom!'
Pierre Poilievre - Canada
Canadian Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre (above) says 'Conservatives have a plan that axes the taxes, builds the homes, fixes the budget, stops the crime and puts Canada First'
Let's now travel north to Canada, Pierre Poilievre's speech, 'Bringing Home Canada's Promise'.
'We need action to protect our country and its people, to take back control of our economic future.
'And to bring home the promise of Canada that Liberals broke over the last 10 years.
'Pierre Poilievre and the Common-Sense Conservatives will restore Canada's promise so all who work hard get a great life in a beautiful home on a safe street protected by strong borders and military under our proud flag.
'Conservatives have a plan that axes the taxes, builds the homes, fixes the budget, stops the crime and puts Canada First. We will bring home paycheques and production and let Canadians bring home more of what they earn.
'We will cut bureaucracy, consultants, corporate welfare and foreign aid to bring down Liberal deficits, taxes and inflation. And we will unleash massive economic growth by repealing Liberal anti-development laws to dig mines, build pipelines, factories, and other profitable businesses.
'We will pass a massive Bring it Home Tax Cut on work, investment, energy, homebuilding and making stuff in Canada. We will reward your hard work with an income tax cut, so you bring home more of each dollar you earn.
'We will take the GST off new homes.
'We will axe the carbon tax for everyone to bring down energy costs for families and businesses. We will simplify the tax code to cut compliance and enforcement costs.
'And cut taxes on businesses that invest more in Canada, to bring home factories, pipelines, technology and other job-creating, income-generating projects.
Pierre Poilievre with his wife, Anaida, during a Canada First rally
'We will rapidly approve the LNG plants Liberals have blocked and exports of uranium and civilian nuclear technology to displace dirty coal production in other parts of the world. Helping India supply half of its new electricity demand with Canadian natural gas instead of dirty coal would reduce emissions by 2.5 billion tons or three times the emissions of all of Canada. We will bring global emissions down by bringing jobs home. We will use technology and not taxes. And we will unleash abundant affordable energy, not energy poverty.
'Do you want change with the Commonsense Conservatives who will axe taxes for everyone, for real?
'Do you think the Trudeau-Carney Liberals deserve a fourth term of pushing our resource jobs out of Canada or will you vote for change with Commonsense Conservatives who will bring our resource jobs home?
'And we will restore Canada's promise so all who work hard get a great life in a beautiful home on a safe street protected by strong borders and military under our proud flag.'
Wise words for changing history for their country too and taking a better path ahead for their people.
And now to Europe.
Giorgia Meloni - Italy
Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni says Italy is thriving because 'we conservatives do what we say. We do what is right. We fight for what we believe in. Unlike the globalist elites, who believe the government should educate the people and force them to accept policies they never asked for, we believe in democracy. We serve the people. We do not rule over them'
Now, from Italy, its brave leader, Giorgia Meloni, who I can't wait to meet this northern summer!
'The mainstream propaganda machine predicted that a conservative government would isolate Italy, erase it from the global map, drive away investors, and suppress fundamental freedoms.
'They were wrong. Their storytelling was fake. The reality is that Italy is thriving. Employment is at a record high. Our economy is growing. Our fiscal policy is back on track. Illegal migration has decreased by 60% in the last year. Most importantly, we are expanding freedom in every aspect of Italians' lives.
'Why? Because we conservatives do what we say. We do what is right. We fight for what we believe in. Unlike the globalist elites, who believe the government should educate the people and force them to accept policies they never asked for, we believe in democracy. We serve the people. We do not rule over them.
'That the political and cultural battle for conservative values is not just an American battle, it is a Western battle. Because, my friends, I still believe in the West. Not just as a geographical space but as a civilization. A civilisation built and defended over centuries through the genius, energy, and sacrifices of many.
'When we say 'West,' we define a way of understanding the world where the individual is central, all men are born equal and free, the law applies equally to all, and freedom comes before everything else. This is our heritage, and we will never apologize for it.
'We must say loudly and clearly to those attacking the West from the outside and those sabotaging it from within with cancel culture and woke ideology that we will never be ashamed of who we are.
'We affirm our identity and work to strengthen it because, without a deep-rooted identity, we cannot be great again. The radical left wants to erase our history, undermine our identity, and divide us by nationality, gender, and ideology. But we will not be divided because we are strong only when we act together.'
Ms Meloni (above) says 'Europe is far from lost, and it will never be lost as long as conservatives remain in the fight'
I love her use of words 'thriving' and 'genius'.
And she ends her speech, with a message for us all to remember:
'Europe is far from lost, and it will never be lost as long as conservatives remain in the fight. There is a growing awareness in Europe that security is now the top priority. You cannot defend your freedom if you lack the means or the courage to do so. Throughout history, Europeans and Americans have shown their resolve. As Pericles once said, 'Happiness depends on freedom, and freedom depends on courage.
'Security, energy security, economic security, food security, national security is fundamental. Because if you are not secure, you are not free. And when freedom is at risk, the only thing to do is put it in wiser hands.'
Viktor Orbán - Hungary
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban says 'the Hungarian government is proud of the pioneering role Hungary has played in this great battle for civilisation. In the West, together with America, Italy, Slovakia , we already form the majority for anti-migrant, pro-family and patriotic policies'
'For fifteen years Hungary and the Hungarian government have been in a minority on the most important issues. The US election has brought a breakthrough in world politics: anti-migration, pro-family and patriotic forces are gaining a majority in the Western world. We Hungarians initiated this change back in 2010, and we have stood by it all the way.
'The Hungarian government is proud of the pioneering role Hungary has played in this great battle for civilisation. In the West, together with America, Italy, Slovakia , we already form the majority for anti-migrant, pro-family and patriotic policies. But a majority is not enough alone: it must be enforced and backed up by strength and power.
'The Hungarian government is ready to do this. This is why, following the example of the US government, we too must dismantle the network of corruption that dominates the entire Western political and media world.'
Robert Fico – Slovakia
Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico admires 'the powerful movements that have emerged in the United States and globally. These movements are not just slogans; they represent a vision that resonates urgently, not only in the United States but across the world'
'Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, recently complained, that he has been trying to hold a mirror up to the European Union for years and that the process has been extremely slow. And then Donald Trump comes along and manages to do it in a matter of days. I also joined Viktor Orbán in this complaint today. If there is one thing Europe needs today, it is the truth.
'The politics of only one single political opinion is devastating us and has serious practical consequences. If you go against the current, you are excluded and punished. Between 2020 and 2023, criminal law was brutally abused against the opposition, of which I was the leader. I myself was charged four times for political activity and illegally monitored.
'It is particularly dangerous when the response to a different opinion is not just to ignore or disrespect it but for opponents to reach for radicalisation and violence. Such dangerous radicalisation is now typical for liberal and progressive ideologies, which, in addition to this new quality of political conduct, promote abnormalities in everyday life and present them as normal and healthy. Let the attempt to assassinate your president or me be the proof of my claim.
'If anyone thinks that we will be intimidated by violence and stray from our values, they are wrong. As we say in Slovakia, "What does not kill us makes us stronger".
'We are now working to recognise in the Constitution only two sexes, male and female, nothing else. We also aim to prohibit teaching anything in schools that contradicts these constitutional definitions.
'We are also following your president's administration's fight against illegal immigration. As the Slovak Prime Minister, I, too, feel a strong commitment to protecting our borders and national sovereignty from external threats, foremost among which is illegal migration. That's why I blocked the redistribution of illegal migrants among the European Union member states on the basis of so-called mandatory quotas.
'In conclusion, I would like to express my admiration for the powerful movements that have emerged in the United States and globally. These movements are not just slogans; they represent a vision that resonates urgently, not only in the United States but across the world.'
Australians, don't we need that vision resonating strongly and urgently here too?
Those quoted words have meaning, we won't be changing our slide into socialism by mincing our words, sitting on the fence, acting like LINOs (Liberals In Name Only), following the non-bipartisan path that Milei clearly described.
Success is possible. As quoted already, other countries have done so. Let's move towards protecting our country from the dangerous course it is on. Let's help to lead Australia onto a path to change the course of our history.
