Originally published by Sky News.
24.06.2026
Gina Rinehart has renewed calls for the Albanese government to do more for homeless veterans as the first residents move into a refurbished Scarborough housing complex funded through her $200 million veterans accommodation program.
The first homeless veterans have moved into refurbished “Ben Roberts-Smith” accommodation under a multi-million-dollar Hancock Prospecting initiative.
The 20-bed residential complex in Scarborough – named Ben Roberts-Smith VC, MG Beach Houses – was bankrolled by Gina Rinehart and opened by the Victoria Cross recipient’s parents on Wednesday.
The accommodation will be managed by Veteran Housing Australia and form the beginnings of a larger acquisition to assist Australia’s estimated 6,000 homeless and at-risk veterans.
“Our veterans do not need more committees or empty words. They need accommodation and people willing to act,” Mrs Rinehart said.
“I hope this accommodation, even more desperately needed as we move into the winter months, will bring some comfort to our struggling veterans, who after sacrificing so much for us are owed a great debt by this nation.”
The mining magnate called on the Albanese government to commit to housing veterans, as she shouldered the task with the $200 million project.
“I hence call again to the Albanese government to urgently recognise that no veteran should be left without a safe place to sleep and immediately open all unused or partly used barracks and other unused or partly used defence accommodations, to enable thousands of homeless veterans to have a place to live,” she said.
“I also call again upon the Albanese government to urgently recognise that veterans who have served our country, should be able to work as much as they want, simply pay tax on their earnings, without jeopardising their very well-deserved pensions. Letting veterans work as much as they may wish has many benefits, including letting them achieve their own rentals or homes.
“The beach houses are in Scarborough, not far from the SAS, where Ben served and carry the name of Ben Roberts-Smith VC, MG. He is a West Australian, former SAS soldier, who is looked up to by Australians across our country, and who served our nation with extraordinary courage. He is a hero.”
Ben Roberts-Smith’s parents, Len and Sue Roberts-Smith, said they were proud to see their son’s name attached to the Scarborough complex.
“Our son has been through so much, and our family knows deeply that the challenges faced by veterans and their loved ones do not end when their service does. In many ways, it just begins,” the pair said.
“For many veterans, the hardest battles come long after they return home, and projects like this show them they have not been forgotten.”
Roberts-Smith is accused of murdering or ordering the murders of five unarmed detainees while deployed in Afghanistan between 2009 and 2012.
He has categorically denied the war crime allegations and remains on bail. He missed an expected appearance at the National War Memorial due to “illness” on Tuesday.
It comes after Ms Rinehart told the Bush Summit in Townsville said the veteran homelessness “really upset” her.
“Why isn’t Canberra listening? Are they so arrogant, are they so heartless, are they so unconcerned for their fellow citizens, their veterans, that they leaved closed their barracks doors and their other spare accommodation, and will not open this up for the approx. 6,000 homeless veterans that we have in our country,” she asked.
She also said the Townsville region could lean on billionaire Elon Musk for space-related infrastructure, or give land to Israeli defence specialists; and donated One Nation leader Pauline Hanson a model bulldozer as a symbol of red-tape reductions.
Earlier in April, the Hancock Prospecting boss pledged $200 million to tackle the homelessness issue.
The funding pledge is the largest ever private commitment for Australian war heroes.
Further buildings are expected to be acquired across the nation for the project.
Ms Rinehart confirmed a refurbished apartment block will open in July in South Perth.
Four further suitable acquisitions being actively sought in Queensland.
Ms Rinehart, named by Soldier On Australia as the “Honorary Guardian of Australian veterans”, has been a long-time backer of armed services personnel through generous support to Soldier On, the SAS Resources Fund, Commando Welfare Trust, Legacy and RSL.
