Originally published by ABC News.
25.06.2026
Australia’s richest person, Gina Rinehart, has refurbished beach houses in Perth to help homeless veterans, naming the complex after Victoria Cross recipient and alleged war criminal Ben Roberts-Smith.
The block of townhouses in the suburb of Scarborough will be managed by Veteran Housing Australia, which is based in Victoria.
Large signs featuring the residential complex’s name, Ben Roberts-Smith Beach Houses, have been placed on the walls of the buildings.
Mrs Rinehart’s company, Hancock Prospecting, said the property was the first of several that would be acquired across Australia to provide accommodation for veterans.
The company described Mrs Rinehart as a “long-time backer of Australian veterans”, and said the complex was officially opened by Mr Roberts-Smith’s parents.
Mrs Rinehart has previously questioned the time and taxpayer money being spent to prosecute Mr Roberts-Smith, Australia’s most decorated soldier, over alleged war crimes.
Mr Roberts-Smith lost a years-long defamation battle with Nine Newspapers in 2023, when the federal court ruled the newspapers had established “substantial truth” in its published allegations of war crimes.
He was charged earlier this year with five counts of war crime murder, alleged to have occurred during tours in Afghanistan between 2009 and 2012.
Mr Roberts-Smith has consistently denied the allegations, saying they are egregious and spiteful.
In a statement, Mrs Rinehart said the beach houses were “not far from the SAS, where Ben served”.
“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,” she said.
“He is a hero.”
Mrs Rinehart also railed against the federal government, urging it to provide more support to veterans.
“Our veterans do not need more committees, or empty words. They need accommodation and people willing to act,” she 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.”
Mrs Rinehart said all barracks or defence accommodations that were not being used, or were only partly used, should be opened for veterans.
“I hence call again to the Albanese government, to urgently recognise that no veteran should be left without a safe place to sleep,” she said.
