Gina Rinehart has criticized what she deems a persistent attack on Ben Roberts-Smith, a former SAS soldier, suggesting it has weakened Australia and its defense force, which she claims is already insufficient in numbers. Rinehart, who is Australia’s richest person, has provided funding to a legal defense fund for former SAS soldiers but has not clarified if she personally supported Roberts-Smith’s legal costs.
On Friday, Roberts-Smith lost an appeal against a ruling in a defamation case. The court upheld the previous judgment by Justice Anthony Besanko that, based on probabilities, Roberts-Smith committed war crimes during his deployment in Afghanistan. Roberts-Smith has consistently denied these allegations. This decision marks the end of a long, seven-year legal battle.
In response to media discussions, Rinehart argued that constant attacks on individuals like Roberts-Smith, who risked their lives in service, have not made the country better but instead harmed its defense capabilities. She also criticized the Channel 9 group for what she perceived as gloating over the court’s decision.
The Sydney Morning Herald, in an editorial, defended the integrity of its journalism, particularly the work of journalists Nick McKenzie and Chris Masters, stating that this verdict should signal the end of years of litigation but not the scrutiny of Australia’s international conduct.
Rinehart’s contributions to the SAS Resources Fund include a reported $1m from her personal funds and a further $610,000 from her companies, with Roberts-Smith having been listed as a donor and ambassador for the fund.
This scrutiny and support have come at a time of heightened attention to military personnel, particularly following the release of parts of the Brereton report in 2020, which investigated allegations of war crimes by Australian special forces in Afghanistan.
Despite Rinehart’s support, the court’s decision upholds the validity of the claims made by McKenzie and Masters in 2018, concerning Roberts-Smith’s alleged involvement in war crimes. However, Rinehart and supporters argue that the broader impact of such cases is detrimental to the morale and effectiveness of Australia’s defense forces.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/may/19/gina-rinehart-criticises-relentless-attack-on-ben-roberts-smith-and-media-gloating-ntwnfb
