Australia’s Richest Man Argues With Richest Woman on Use of Foreign Workers

Although two of the richest persons in Australia often agree to oppose certain government policies such as the mining tax and the carbon tax, Andrew Forrest and Gina Rinehart are on the opposite sides when it comes to employment of foreign workers.

Mr Forrest, the chairman of Fortescue Metals Group and Australia's richest man, said on Tuesday that he is saddened by news that aboriginal Australians are bypassed for mining jobs in favour of skilled workers from overseas.

Although he did not directly mentioned Hancock Prospecting owner, Ms Rinehart, who is also Australia's and Asia's richest woman, the reference was obviously on the controversial billionaire who wrote last week in a magazine column that she favours the use of some foreign construction workers to fill in the 8,000 needed by Hancock's .Roy Hill iron ore venture at the Pilbara region in Western Australia.

The construction workers would only be hired for the civil works, while as soon as the mine becomes operational, Hancock would hire local workers. Ms Rinehart even offered to pay for the training of locals in preparation for their employment with the company.

"I would say to people who look to 457 (visas) first recognise that Australia has changed and you must change with it and look first to your indigenous brothers and sisters to fill those jobs," The Australian quoted Mr Forrest.