Gina Rinehart calls for immigrants’ social media to be screened in Anzac memorial speech

Australia’s richest person, Gina Rinehart, called for immigrants’ social media to be screened and said children are being taught to be ashamed of the Australian flag in untelevised remarks before an Anzac memorial service on the steps of Sydney Opera House on Friday.

Rinehart’s public appearance was attended by about 4,000 people and sponsored by her company, Hancock Prospecting, and RSL New South Wales. She claimed that the Australian government was wasting money, eroding freedoms, running an ineffective defence force, leaving veterans homeless, teaching children to be ashamed of the Australian flag and doing nothing in response to “death chants”, condemning how Australia’s response had been inadequate regarding the murder of the Jews during the Bondi Beach shooting.

The mining magnate’s company on Thursday announced it would put $200m towards buying properties to convert into housing for homeless Australian veterans, which it described as “the biggest ever private commitment for Australian veterans”.

The opposition leader, Angus Taylor, who has called for migrants’ online presences to be screened, spoke briefly to Rinehart at the service’s conclusion. The deputy prime minister, Richard Marles, also attended and spoke before the event’s official commencement, as did the New Zealand defence minister, Chris Penk, and the event’s patron, the former governor general Peter Cosgrove. Marles’ office did not respond on Sunday when asked what he thought of Rinehart’s remarks.