Gina Rinehart criticises ‘relentless attack’ on Ben Roberts-Smith and media ‘gloating’

Gina Rinehart has said: ‘The relentless attack on Ben Roberts-Smith hasn’t made the country better.’ Photograph: Hollie Adams/Reuters

Gina Rinehart has criticised a “relentless attack” on the former SAS soldier Ben Roberts-Smith and argued that it has weakened the nation and a defence force “already struggling with inadequate numbers to defend us”.

Australia’s richest person, who has donated to a fund designed to support the legal costs of former SAS soldiers, has declined to say whether she personally funded Roberts-Smith’s legal costs.