Gina Rinehart urges 'woke' companies to 'stand up for Australia Day' and let workers celebrate
The mining magnate has urged Aussie businesses and workers to 'stand up for our country' on January 26.
- Gina Rinehart urged Aussies to celebrate Australia Day
- Office staff get the public holiday off
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By ASHLEY NICKEL, NEWS REPORTER, AUSTRALIA
Published: 08:48 GMT, 11 January 2026 | Updated: 10:13 GMT, 11 January 2026
Mining magnate Gina Rinehart has reignited the Australia Day debate by urging businesses and their workers to 'stand up for our country' and celebrate the national public holiday.
The patriotic billionaire has declared that Hancock Prospecting corporate offices will be closed on January 26, giving staff a long weekend.
However, the company's mining and agriculture operations - which run on a 24-7 schedule - will continue as normal.
The Australia Day public holiday which marks the day the First Fleet arrived in Sydney Cove in 1788, has come under scrutiny in recent years.
Many Australians - particularly younger generation and Indigenous people - regard it as ‘Invasion Day’ or a 'Day of Mourning'.
The debate has divided employers and employees, unions and industry groups.
A growing number of major companies such as Telstra, Commonwealth Bank and AustralianSuper allow employees to choose whether they take off the public holiday or opt for another date to celebrate.
Mrs Rinehart has distanced Hancock Prospecting from employers that promote workplace flexibility by urging businesses and workers to be patriotic and 'save Australia.'
Gina Rinehart (pictured) called on businesses and Aussies to 'save our country' by celebrating Australia Day
The Australia Day public holiday has come under rising scrutiny in recent years. Pictured are patriotic Aussies celebrating the public holiday
Hancock Prospecting is the naming rights sponsor of Perth's Australia Day fireworks display.
'Australia Day is a day to refresh national pride, to celebrate all the great things about our beautiful country, including our hardworking pioneers who had it tough and struggled day after day to help build our country,' Mrs Rinehart told The Australian.