Gina Rinehart puts ABC on notice over Race Around the World episode

Mining magnate Gina Rinehart and her company, Hancock Prospecting, have formally put the ABC and its board on notice, threatening legal action over an episode of "Race Around the World." The program, which follows six Australian filmmakers on a global journey, aired an episode on July 12 that included a contestant's fictional depiction of a violent assault on Rinehart. The scenario involved using a stick to turn her into "a big sausage roll."

Hancock Prospecting sent a letter to the ABC Board on July 23, demanding the immediate removal of the material from all ABC platforms, a public apology to Mrs. Rinehart, and a thorough investigation into how the content was commissioned, approved, and published. The company stated that a week later, there had been no substantive response from the ABC's board or senior management.

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The sense of humour featured in each of my films on the Race Around The World program is farcical. In no way was it my intention to promote violence. My writing is cartoonish and always satirical. Unfortunately, jokes do not land with everyone. Its purpose was never to be taken literally.

The company has now formally notified ABC Chair Kim Williams, Deputy Chair Lisa Caffery, and Managing Director Hugh Marks of "detailed allegations of serious contraventions of multiple Australian criminal and civil laws" stemming from the ABC's publication of the episode. Contestant Kate McGuinness, who portrayed the fictional scenario, has since issued an apology, describing her writing as "cartoonish and always satirical" and stating it was not her intention to promote violence or be taken literally.

An ABC spokesperson confirmed that the broadcaster received correspondence from Rinehart's lawyers and will respond in due course. The ABC Ombudsman is independently reviewing audience complaints related to the episode as part of the network's standard complaints handling process. The episode has not yet been removed from ABC platforms.

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Hancock called upon the ABC to immediately remove the material from all ABC platforms, publicly apologise to Mrs Rinehart, and undertake a comprehensive investigation into how the material came to be commissioned, approved and published, together with full accountability for those responsible.