Gina Rinehart issues dramatic legal threat to the ABC after filmmaker made vile on-air attack about her that Leigh Sales described as nasty

Australia’s richest person, Gina Rinehart, has issued a legal threat to the ABC after a filmmaker launched an on-air attack on her that 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 ABC’s Race Around The World program on July 12.

The competition series follows six aspiring Australian filmmakers who travel the world to complete 10 short films in 10 countries within 100 days.

McGuinness’ four-minute entry, entitled A Very Relaxing Video 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.

On Friday, a spokesperson for Mrs Rinehart’s company Hancock Prospecting told the Daily Mail the company had issued a legal threat to the ABC.

‘On 23 July 2026, Hancock Prospecting Pty Ltd (Hancock) wrote to the ABC Board regarding the publication and continued publication of material concerning its Executive Chairman, Mrs Gina Rinehart AO,’ they said.

‘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. One week has now elapsed.

‘The ABC’s Board and senior management have provided no substantive public response, nor any substantive response to Hancock or Mrs Rinehart, and have taken no steps to remove the material from ABC platforms, despite widespread public condemnation and the serious risks its publication and continued publication pose to Mrs Rinehart.

‘Hancock has now formally placed ABC Chair Kim Williams AM, Deputy Chair Lisa Caffery and Managing Director Hugh Marks on notice of detailed allegations of serious contraventions of multiple Australian criminal and civil laws arising from the ABC’s publication and continued publication of the material.’

A spokesperson for the ABC confirmed to the Daily Mail that they had been contacted by Mrs Rinehart.

‘The ABC has received correspondence from lawyers acting for Mrs Rinehart and will respond to it in due course,’ they said.

‘The ABC Ombudsman is independently reviewing audience complaints in relation to the 12 July Race Around the World episode in accordance with the ABC’s complaints handling process.’

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’.

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.

Communications Minister Anika Wells this week described the aired 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.’