What are your thoughts on what Gina has said? In the age of the internet can an individual with a public profile make such comments to a select audience (the readership of a mining journal) and expect it to remain in that sphere? Is this a good or bad thing for a democratic society?

My thoughts on what Gina the Hutt said in the Australian Resources and Investment magazine in a politically correct way is that her statements were inappropriate, ill informed and a reference to use on educating people about ignorance. In a non politically correct way of stating my thoughts I think she's a spoilt brat child whose inheritance of her fathers global mining empire has blinded her to the fact that not all people are born into privilege. Her statement ""Let's get through the class warfare smokescreen" is a classic example of how someone living her ridiculously luxurious lifestyle can completely lose touch with the current social demographics that make up our modern day social classes.
Not everyone is born into privilege. Not everyone is born into opportunity. Not everyone gets to inherit a global mining company.
The only statement of hers that I can come to an agreement on is that yes smoking, drinking and socialising is costing the working families of Australia. However in today's modern society where the working class people of Australia are made to toil for the right to have a roof over their heads and food on their plate such financial/social pressures  can lead to dependencies and addictions in order to escape the pressure. It is a crutch that some choose to rest on others choose not but who is this spoilt pigglet to suggest that the workers of Australia instead of relaxing with a drink and a smoke with friends try harder to make more money for themselves(her company).
Gina even had the nerve to suggest a minimum wage reduction claiming that it would increase job opportunities. So she's expecting more people to work for her company for less wages. I sense the darkside is strong with this one.