GINA Rinehart’s plan for a $175m state-of-the-art “charitable” cancer treatment centre in Darwin appears dead, with former chief minister Adam Giles saying it was unlikely to proceed now he is out of office.

“I think it’s done and dusted,” he said. “She was doing it because of me. I would say 99.99 per cent it’s dead.”

media_camera Mining magnate Gina Rinehart. PICTURE: Jane Dempster

Plans for the hospital were revealed in late 2014 by Mr Giles and confirmed in January 2015 by Mrs Rinehart, while accepting an award for Philanthropist of the Year.

She declared her company, Hancock Prospecting, had committed “the largest charitable donation in Australian history — to build a specialised cancer hospital for the people of Northern Australia, based in Darwin.”

“Those who work in the challenging north of our country, with its great potential, need world-class health facilities, too. That is our ambition,” she had said.

Mr Giles said the hospital was always intended as a for-profit business that would target wealthy Asian patients looking for high-end cancer treatments.

The idea of a for-profit charitable venture is not uncommon overseas.

The deal would have also required the NT Government to provide Mrs Rinehart with exclusive waterfront land, free of charge.

In exchange, two free beds would be set aside for locals.

Mr Giles, whose government was hurled out of power in late August, said: “It became a bit politically hard.”

He knew there was a high chance the public — who had seen his government lease the Port of Darwin to Chinese interests — would react badly if they learned Mrs Rinehart was provided waterfront land for a private, for-profit clinic.

“Gina was specific about location,” said Mr Giles.

“Not far from the airport and large ground, gardens and water views.”

Mr Giles, who became close to Mrs Rinehart, said she was genuine in wanting to build the 40-bed hospital in Darwin in order to focus on northern development. He and others intimate with the plans said they understood Mrs Rinehart would run it as a business.

“She’s got a foundation but it would be for-profit,” Mr Giles said. “I negotiated a minimum of two beds for Territory patients, and could have got up to four. She was still keen to go ahead, but only if I was there.”

He said any land granted would likely have been a long lease, rather than an outright gift, but his government was already under attack.

media_camera Former chief minister Adam Giles believes it is unlikley Gina Rinehart’s charitable cancer treatment in Darwin will go ahead now he is out of office. PICTURE: AAP

Mrs Rinehart’s media spokesperson, Sophie Mirabella, the former Liberal member for Indi, said she needed more time to familiarise herself with the issue before any comment would be made.

In late 2014, Mr Giles tasked three senior NT officials, then Health Minister Robyn Lambley, NT Health boss Len Notaras and senior public servant Anne Tan to travel to Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Istanbul looking at the kind of exclusive cancer clinics Mrs Rinehart sought to replicate in the NT.

“We were taken to suites in private hospitals that only sheiks and royalty had access to,” said Ms Lambley, whom Mr Giles dumped from her portfolio shortly after her return. “It was a complete waste of time and money.”

She said they were advised by Middle Eastern hospital executives not to proceed, because wealthy clients would prefer to travel to Singapore, Dubai or Germany.

Ms Lambley said of the proposed clinic: “My understanding it was for-profit. It was bizarre. She (Rinehart) came to Darwin and her entourage was nine cars and security. It was likened to Obama coming to Darwin. She only wanted to deal directly with Giles.”

They toured seaview lands in Darwin, including Myilly Point, East Point and Lee Point, which ultimately became the favoured site. Mr Giles took NT News journalists to Lee Point and briefed them.

They were left in no doubt from Mr Giles that Mrs Rinehart was planning a for-profit clinic for wealthy Asians. Mr Giles pointed out Mrs Rinehart donates care packages to patients in Perth and Darwin hospitals and said she would have had more success if she had planned the hospital for Perth or Sydney, but wanted to do something for the NT.

Rinehart response

Gina Rinehart’s office realeased this statement in reponse to the story: “Although the money has been set aside for the hospital, whilst under Adam Giles leadership of the Northern Territory, the donation was always on the basis of a peppercorn rental for suitable coastal land to be made available, which the hospital and donors would not own, and with all required approvals for building the hospital.

“This project was enthusiastically and well led by the leadership of the former government, in whom Mrs Rinehart placed both trust and confidence, but as of yet we haven’t heard anything from the new government, so are unable to properly comment as to the land, approvals and hence hospital project’s future.

“Other than to note, it was intended to benefit especially the people of the Northern Territory and the north, in addition to any others who wished to be patients, for those struggling with cancer, and or those wanting key hole surgery, not to be exclusively or primarily for Asian patients, as incorrectly reported.”