Arabic version: شركة راينهارت تنتقد قرار أمين مظالم ABC

According to ABC News, Hancock Prospecting, the company owned by Gina Rinehart, has criticised an ABC Ombudsman finding that comments aired on Race Around the World did not breach the broadcaster’s editorial standards.

The July 12 episode included contestant Kate McGuinness describing a fictional scenario involving a violent attack on Mrs Rinehart. Hancock Prospecting wrote to the ABC Board late last month seeking removal of the video, a public apology and a comprehensive investigation into how it was published.

ABC managing director Hugh Marks apologised to Mrs Rinehart this week and said the material fell short of community expectations. The film has been removed from ABC platforms and will be replaced with an edited version without the material subject to the complaint.

An Ombudsman review found the episode did not breach standards on harm and offence. It said the assessment concerned whether likely offence was justified by editorial context, citing the program format, the filmmaker’s creative style, the surreal and hyperbolic nature of the film, no visual depiction of violence, and criticism from the judging panel.

A Hancock Prospecting spokesperson said the decision “fails all Australian women” and called for significant improvement to ABC Editorial Standards. Marks said the ABC would amend guidance on violence, adding that no individual should be the subject of comedy violent in its description. McGuinness has said her work was farcical and satirical, and that she did not intend to promote violence.