The Australian Broadcasting Corporation's (ABC) Ombudsman office has conveyed its regret to Gina Rinehart, Australia's wealthiest individual, following the broadcast of a segment depicting a graphic assault fantasy about her. An email stated the broadcaster regretted that the content "did not meet your expectations." The ABC managing director has since apologized for the segment, removed it from platforms, and committed to revising editorial standards.
The controversial film, created by aspiring filmmaker Kate McGuinness as part of the ABC's "Race Around the World" competition, was broadcast on July 12. The four-minute movie graphically described assaulting Rinehart with a stick, with the stated intent to "make one big sausage roll." This depiction led Rinehart's company, Hancock Prospecting, to threaten legal action and lodge a formal complaint with the ABC Ombudsman.
Despite the significant backlash, the Ombudsman's initial investigation concluded that the broadcast did not breach the ABC's editorial policies. However, ABC's managing director Hugh Marks acknowledged that "the treatment of Mrs Rinehart was not fair" and that the episode fell short of community expectations. As a result, the segment has been edited on ABC platforms.
Sources close to the matter criticized the Ombudsman's response as "unacceptable" and suggested the office was not taking the "graphic hate-filled nature of the segment" seriously. They also claimed that a similar incident involving a figure on the political left would likely elicit a different response from the ABC.
Hancock Prospecting issued a statement prior to the Ombudsman's email, expressing anticipation for "long overdue changes to the ABC's editorial standards." The company asserted that such standards must prevent depictions of sexual violence and torture against any woman on the ABC, regardless of whether presented as satire or art. They argued that the content normalized violent torture and dehumanized an Australian woman, which is unacceptable.
The ABC has stated that it will amend its guidance concerning violence to better reflect community expectations. This review will be led by the Editorial Policies department, with any changes subject to approval by the ABC Board.