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Posted: 2024-08-09 19:41:27

As they stepped aboard the luxury yacht, about to set sail on the Seine, it wasn't our Olympians' hard-won medals glinting in the setting sun — it was their golden footwear.

The exclusive soiree had been organised by the billionaire backer of Australia's swimming team, Gina Rinehart, and along with their invitation to attend was a request to wear the Rossi boots she had gifted them.

Founded in Adelaide in 1910, the heritage branded working boot is the latest acquisition of Rinehart's cattle company S. Kidman and Co, which also counts Driza-Bone oilskin jackets among its stable of brands. 

Sailing past Parisian landmarks, Australia's Olympians became walking advertisements for the boot Rinehart purchased for an undisclosed sum in December, demonstrating her "commitment to preserving iconic national brands".

A group of people on a cruise with the Eiffel Tower in the background

Gina Rinehart and Australia's Olympic medallists posed for photos in their gold Rossi boots, on their cruise along the Seine River. (Supplied: Gina Rinehart)

"Acquiring Rossi Boots is not just a business decision; it’s a recognition of our national history," Rinehart said at the time. 

"We are pleased to add this iconic brand to our growing portfolio."

This pursuit into Australian apparel has, once again, put Rinehart in competition with fellow billionaire mining magnate Andrew "Twiggy" Forrest. 

Forrest snapped up another iconic boot brand, RM Williams, for $190 million in 2020, followed by the hatmaker Akubra in late 2023.

There's no love lost between the rich listers, who both spent much of their early lives in the red dirt of the West Australian outback and went on to make their fortunes in mining.

But this latest battle is about more than boots — it's about power and influence. 

A man next two women, all smiling and holding up the Australian flag.

Gina Rinehart was front and centre watching the Australians in the pool at the Olympics in Paris, alongside Dawn Fraser and Swimming Queensland director Jeff Winnington. (Supplied: Gina Rinehart)

Boots 'a way of buying influence' 

Through her company's sartorial acquisitions, Rinehart's reach — particularly into the conservative side of politics — is on public display. 

At $250 a pop, Rossis are about half the price of a pair of RM Williams, and are typically worn by workers on mining and construction sites. 

RMs, however, are the boot of choice for most male federal politicians, including the prime minister (you only have to tune into Question Time to see the row of leather boots on the frontbenches).

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has long been an RM Williams man, but more recently has been stepping out in Rossi boots.

He even paid a special visit to the Rossi Boots stall at Beef Week in Rockhampton in May, following what his office termed an RM's 'blow out' at the event, going on to proudly display his pair (a more classic brown, rather than gold) alongside S. Kidman and Co. CEO and former Northern Territory chief minister, Adam Giles.

Dutton also brought them onto the world stage when he travelled to Israel earlier this month and was snapped sitting beside President Isaac Herzog, with Rossi's recognisable red tab peeking out.

A composite shows men in suits smiling, Peter Dutton with a foot up to display his boots, and sitting with the same boots

At Beef Week in May, and in Israel earlier this month, Dutton was spotted in his Rossi boots.(Supplied)

It's a "form of homage" according to Brand Agency CEO Steve Harris, who says Dutton has a "well-known" allegiance to Rinehart.

Indeed, Dutton – who reportedly made an overnight dash to Perth to make a brief appearance at the mining magnate's 70th birthday bash in February – has described Rinehart as "a dear friend" and a "great Australian".

"He's certainly trying to establish a close relationship for financial purposes, for donation purposes, so it's probably a strange way of buying influence," Harris says.

"But if he was wearing a competitor's boot, I'm sure she would ask — and probably has asked — 'Why aren't you wearing my product?'"

Peter Dutton wearing pink hi-vis vest waves walking off plane next to Gina Rinehart

Dutton has described Rinehart as a friend, and has attended several events organised by the mining magnate. He appeared in a promotional video for Hancock Prospecting's national mining day last year.(YouTube: Hancock Prospecting)

Dutton isn't the only federal politician sporting Rinehart's brands.

Scan Pauline Hanson's socials and you'll find a promotion for "a massive 20 per cent discount off Rossi Boots and Drizabone" for the month of May. Rinehart had attended a One Nation fundraiser, as the guest of honour, a few months earlier. 

And there appears to be a political tone to these fashion allegiances.

Barnaby Joyce ditched his RMs over renewables 

Climate and energy policy is perhaps where Rinehart's footprint has most left its mark.

A long-time proponent of nuclear power, Rinehart has questioned the cost of reaching net zero emissions by 2050 and labelled wind turbines "bird-killing wind generators". 

Forrest, on the other hand, owns Squadron Energy, one of Australia's biggest renewables companies (building wind turbines at scale), and promotes clean energy with an almost evangelical zeal. 

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