Cult-of-victimhood – Netball Australia vs Gina Rinehart

My grandmother hated the Japanese with a passion, having survived their gruesome war crimes. However, though Singaporeans are taught the history of how our nation was forged from the ashes of a cruel occupation, we do not hold the deeds of the past against modern-day Japanese. We can distinguish between generations.

Not so the detractors of Georgina Hope “Gina” Rinehart. The 68-year-old mining magnate and heiress has been roundly chastised by the merciless left for failing to apologise for remarks made by her father Lang Hancock over three decades ago.

The furore began when indigenous player Donnell Wallam protested at wearing the logo of Netball Australia sponsor Hancock Prospecting, citing Mr Hancock’s 1984 statement that Indigenous Australians should be sterilised to “breed themselves out”.

Seeking a Scapegoat

Rinehart, who has funded charities providing schooling, scholarships, and employment opportunities for Indigenous youth through Hancock Prospecting, declined to be blamed for her deceased father’s words, and has pulled the plug on Hancock’s $15 million sponsorship.

Pastor and media commentator James Macpherson contends:

“If Rinehart’s accusers were acting in good faith, and if they were in the least bit concerned about justice, they would not be insisting that a woman answer for the sins of a man. Does anyone really believe that if Rinehart did as they asked, her apology would be graciously received? The mob don’t want an apology, they want a scalp.”

This imputed guilt by association comes swiftly after the Essendon FC debacle, where new chief executive Andrew Thorburn was forced out after social media vigilantes dug up 2013 sermons from the church he now attends, expressing pro-life views and advising those struggling with same-sex attraction to seek support against their temptations.

Those who engage in identity politics and demand that the world bend to their whims due to their supposed victim status, often end up shooting themselves in the foot … Those who define themselves, not by some past injustice, but by their present potential, are best able to grasp opportunities to build a better future.

Smokescreen

Hancock Prospecting has released a public statement on the matter, which reveals that media soundbites may be erroneous, disguising deeper issues in the sport:

“Hancock and Roy Hill were not made aware prior to the proposed partnerships, of the complexity of existing issues between Netball Australia and the Players Association. This includes the Players Association’s endeavours to gain a very substantial increase in wages during a time the sport is reeling financially … Hancock’s proposed sponsorship would have enabled a generous increase in wages for the players …

“Contrary to recent media, Hancock has not insisted that its name be worn by the Australian Diamonds in the current Constellation Cup series when overseas, and was advised that the netballers had no concerns in wearing the name on the team dress for the series …

“Hancock and Roy Hill do not wish to add to Netball’s disunity problems … it will instead provide a four-month sponsorship should they and their players wish to accept it, to continue funding the athletes and to help Netball as it arranges alternative funding and sponsorships.”

Climatic Concerns

Ex-Australian netball captain Sharni Norder tweeted upon the news of Hancock’s sponsorship:

“It’s unacceptable to put our brand alongside an open climate denier. We have put too much into our sport to give social licence to a company who’s [sic] profit at all cost attitude puts our future in danger.”

Last year, Rinehart prepared a video address for her alma mater St Hilda’s, in which she prompted students to do some critical thinking on climate change:

“If I may ask a question, for students to ask their teachers, and do their own independent research, and that is: ‘Which comes first, global warming, or an increase in carbon?’”

The school censored her remarks.

Hancock Prospecting avers:

“Mining and resources companies provide billions of dollars to the Australian economy … Hancock and Roy Hill [have] contributed well in excess of $300 million to indigenous Australians …

“Mining is critical to securing the minerals essential for everyday life. An often conveniently neglected truth when activists talk emotively about mining is that most, if not all, of the primary products required for the equipment, production, distribution and delivery of renewable energy depend on resources that need to be mined. To quote Australia’s Minister for Resources and Minister for Northern Australia, Hon Madeleine King MP, ‘No mining, no net zero’.”

Those who engage in identity politics and demand that the world bend to their whims due to their supposed victim status, often end up shooting themselves in the foot. Mark Milke penned an excellent tome on this matter: The Victim Cult: How the Culture of Blame Hurts Everyone and Wrecks Civilizations. Those who define themselves, not by some past injustice, but by their present potential, are best able to grasp opportunities to build a better future.

In the end, the netballers who expect Rinehart to pander to their perceived slights have lost the most from their political dallying.

Author: Jean Seah
Jean Seah is a social media manager, freelance writer, managing editor of The Daily Declaration and associate editor of MercatorNet. After growing up in Singapore, reading law in Brisbane, running off to a convent in Perth, imbibing liberal arts in Sydney and a brief sojourn in Melbourne, she is now back in sunny Queensland working in pro-life and pro-family advocacy.