World's Richest Woman Tells 'Jealous Poor': Drink Less And Lower Minimum Wage

By Oliver Tree | August 31 2012 8:11 AM

Gina Rinehart, the world's richest woman, has attacked some Australian workers for being jealous towards the rich, spending too much time down the pub and suggested lowering the minimum wage of 606.40 Australian dollars ($626 U.S.) a week.

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Fortune: $18 Billion Georgina Rinehart, Australian mining magnate, is now the richest women in Asia-Pacific. Rinehart, the richest woman of Australia, rank 29 in the Forbes lists and is the fourth richest women in the world.

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Rinehart, who inherited $75 million from her late father before carving out a $13 billion mining fortune, made the comments in a column she wrote for the Australian Resources and Investment magazine, according to AFP.

The outspoken industrialist also pushed for more tax cuts to boost employment and urged workers to cut down on smoking and socialising in the same article.

"If you are jealous of those with more money, don't just sit there and complain. Do something to make more money for yourself - spend less time drinking or smoking and socialising, and more time working," wrote Ms Rinehart who insisted there is no monopoly on becoming a millionaire.

Rounding on Australia's "class warfare," Rinehart also advocated cutting taxes.

Health Minister Tanya Plibersek criticised the mining magnate for her column which she said was an attack on people earning low wages.

"I think it's pretty easy for Gina Rinehart to say that people on the minimum wage should get paid less . . . I think she should try living on the minimum wage," Ms Pilbersek was quoted by Seven network.