The ABC has apologised to mining magnate Gina Rinehart over a segment aired on Race Around the World that featured fictional remarks about a violent attack against her, despite an internal complaints process finding the episode did not breach editorial standards.
ABC managing director Hugh Marks said the segment did not meet community expectations and acknowledged the broadcaster had fallen short in its handling of the content.
“When you hear it, when you hear about it and other people talking about it, doesn’t meet the pub test,” Marks said.
“So it didn’t meet community expectations.”
The ABC Ombudsman found the episode did not breach editorial standards relating to harm and offence, concluding that viewers were unlikely to interpret the remarks as a genuine call for violence due to the segment’s satirical format, surreal style and lack of visual depiction of violence.
The controversy centred on a short film created by contestant Kate McGuinness for the program, which included a fictional scenario involving Mrs Rinehart and graphic references to violence.
Rinehart’s company, Hancock Prospecting, had complained to the ABC Board, requesting the material be removed, an apology issued and an investigation into how the content was approved and published.
McGuinness later apologised to anyone offended by the segment, saying her work was intended as “farcical” and satirical. “In no way was it my intention to promote violence,” she said.
“My writing is cartoonish and always satirical.”
The segment also drew criticism from politicians, with Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles describing it as “completely inappropriate and unacceptable”, while Greens communications spokesperson Sarah Hanson-Young called it “disgusting”.
Following the controversy, the ABC said it would amend its editorial guidance on violence, particularly around comedy and non-news programming.
Marks said the broadcaster had a responsibility to reflect community standards. “No individual should be the subject of comedy that is violent in its description in our programming,” he said.
“The ABC has to hold itself to a higher standard.”
The ABC has removed the original segment from its platforms and replaced it with an edited version without the material subject to the complaint.
Support our Journalism
No-nonsense journalism. No paywalls. Whether you’re in Australia, the UK, Canada, the USA, or India, you can support The Australia Today by taking a paid subscription via Patreon or donating via PayPal — and help keep honest, fearless journalism alive.
