Billionaire mining magnate Gina Rinehart blasted Midnight Oil frontman Peter Garrett for urging fans to ‘dance on her grave’, warning ‘the attention-seeking activist’ was only ‘trashing’ his own reputation with disrespectful comments.
The 71-year-old rock star and former federal Environment Minister made the comments while performing with his other band The Alter Egos at Perth Festival last Friday.
Mr Garrett invited concertgoers to ‘pretend they’re dancing on Gina Rinehart’s grave’, while also criticising Donald Trump and gas giant Woodside.
WA Premier Roger Cook weighed in on Monday, slamming his comments as ‘completely inappropriate’.
‘The arts are also there to challenge us and perhaps Peter Garrett thought that he was challenging the people of WA when he made his inappropriate comments,’ Mr Cook said.
‘He wasn’t, quite frankly – he was being disrespectful and sowing the sort of seeds of hatred that we do see around the place, so he’s got to stop.’
A spokesperson for Mrs Rinehart’s company, Hancock Prospecting, echoed the Premier’s comments.
‘The attention-seeking activist tried to trash Mrs Rinehart in front of thousands of people, but instead he ended up trashing himself and others who think, as Premier Cook has said, “sowing the seeds of hatred” is ok in the name of “art”,’ the spokesperson said.
Peter Garrett (pictured), 71, invited the concertgoers to ‘pretend they’re dancing on Gina Rinehart’s grave’, while also criticising Donald Trump and gas giant Woodside
WA Premier Roger Cook weighed in on Monday, slamming his comments as ‘completely inappropriate’ (pictured: Mrs Rinehart)
‘That being the Perth Festival spokespeople and those mainly government organisations that sponsor it.
‘Plus, a corporate misusing its shareholders’ money for this, and earlier divisive woke causes.’
Perth Festival, which is supported by the University of WA, Wesfarmers and other major corporations, defended free artistic expression, noting that ‘views shared by artists are their own’.
‘Perth Festival recognises that people will have many different perspectives, experiences and opinions that reflect the complexity and rich diversity of our community,’ the spokesperson added.
Mr Garrett is no stranger to controversy.
The former Labor minister described One Nation leader Pauline Hanson’s views as ‘totally objectionable, morally repugnant and dumb’ in 2017.
He shared a picture of Friday’s performance whereby he sought to hammer home his point about the environment.
‘Big thanks to all who came out in Perth last night,’ it was captioned.
Mr Garrett shared a picture of Friday’s performance whereby he sought to hammer home his point about the environment. The comments below the social media post were scathing
‘Great – albeit ironic, to play at the old power station. With WA oceans boiling, Woodside planet wreckers T-shirt was put to good use!’
The comments below the social media post were scathing.
‘Biggest let down in Australian political history – done nothing,’ one wrote.
Another said everyday Aussies were ‘fed up with those who feel entitled and privileged—artists, elites, and city dwellers in the eastern states—preaching to the rest of the country’.
‘Like we saw in the Voice referendum, the “quiet Australians” may not always be loud, but they wield real power when it counts,’ they added.
A third fumed: ‘Won’t be listening to any more oils after his pathetic rant. Grow up.’
Another added: ‘The old adage “it’s better to remain silent and appear a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt” should be applied to all artists when they choose to inflict their politics on the public.’