A filmmaker has apologised for a vile on-air attack on Gina Rinehart that aired on the ABC and was so disturbing even one of the broadcaster’s own presenters called it ‘nasty’.
Filmmaker Kate McGuinness sparked outrage with her latest clip, which aired on Wednesday night’s episode of ABC’s Race Around The World.
The competition series follows six aspiring Australian filmmakers who travel the world to complete 10 short films in 10 countries within 100 days.
McGuinness submitted her latest entry, entitled A Very Relaxing Video, from Scotland.
The four-minute film took a dramatic turn towards the end when McGuinness launched into a foul attack on Mrs Rinehart.
The outburst is too disturbing to publish but went into detail about graphically assaulting the mining magnate with a stick to ‘make one big sausage roll’.
Guest panellist Leigh Sales was the only one of the show’s three judges to push back against the remarks, saying they were ‘nasty’, but also said she ‘really liked’ the film.
The ABC initially defended the film, saying it was ‘intended to be satirical in tone and considered to be editorially justifiable within the context of the program’.
Kate McGuiness (right) has apologised for her Gina Rinehart ‘satire’ video aired by ABC
The filmmaker graphically described assaulting Gina Rinehart with a stick to ‘make one big sausage roll’
Almost three weeks after the episode aired, the ABC on Thursday issued a short statement on McGuinness’s behalf, which the broadcaster said it ‘supports’.
‘The sense of humour featured in each of my films on the Race Around The World program is farcical,’ McGuinness’s statement read.
‘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.
‘I apologise to anyone I’ve offended.’
On Wednesday, the ABC announced its ombudsman was independently reviewing audience complaints about the episode in accordance with the broadcaster’s complaints handling process.
The ABC has not apologised or removed the segment, which remains available on its online platforms.
‘The ABC won’t be commenting further while the review is in progress,’ the broadcaster added on Thursday.
‘In no way was it my intention to promote violence. My writing is cartoonish and always satirical,’ Kate McGuiness said
Guest panellist Leigh Sales was the only one of the show’s three judges to object to the remarks, describing them as ‘nasty’
A spokesman for Mrs Rinehart’s company, Hancock Prospecting, previously criticised the video.
‘This appalling material, presented by the taxpayer-funded ABC as ‘entertainment’, illustrated and graphically described Mrs Rinehart being sodomised and tortured in a manner that would kill her,’ a spokesman said last week.
‘It is nothing short of disgusting that the ABC would encourage and normalise violence and murder by broadcasting, publishing and continuing to distribute this content. This was not an unscripted live comment; it passed through production, editorial and broadcast processes.
‘If the ABC believes it can hide behind the false shield of ‘satire’ to glorify sexualised and political violence and murder, then it has completely lost sight of its editorial responsibilities and, surely, this is outside its Charter?
‘A public apology would be the minimum appropriate response, but more importantly, a light must be shone on who let this go to air in primetime, and action taken.’
Communications Minister Anika Wells this week described the content as ‘unacceptable’.
‘My personal view is it’s unacceptable. Like any Australian, there’s stuff I see on TV that I don’t agree with,’ Wells said.
‘As the Minister for Communications, I respect the editorial independence of the ABC, but I understand they have now referred it to the Ombudsman.’
