Outrage at ABC over Rinehart torture clip

Hancock Prospecting demand an apology from the ABC over footage that “glorified sexualised and political violence and murder” against Gina Rinehart, accusing the public broadcaster of hiding behind a false shield of satire to justify the clip.

The ABC aired the four-minute “A Very Relaxing Video” on the July 12 episode of its Race Around The World program.

In the clip, a character described as a “Scottish forest warrior ninja” performs contestant Kate Guinness through relaxation exercises and nature-based activities before ending with a violent reference to Mrs Rinehart.

“Because when the revolution comes, will you hide under the bed? Or will you know exactly how to shove a stick right up Gina Rinehart’s butthole,” the film said.

“Stirring it around, mixing her guts up nice and smooth, making her into one big sausage roll to make something out of nothing.”

Hancock Prospecting slammed the clip, with a spokesman saying the segment was not an unscripted live comment, adding it would have “passed through production, editorial and broadcast processes” to take aim at the mining billionaire.

“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,” the spokesperson said. “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.

“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 prime time, and to air on ABC.”

The ABC defended the segment, with a spokesperson calling the video “satirical in tone”.

It said all content published by the broadcaster was bound by editorial guidelines.

“Race Around The World features filmed created by amateur filmmakers, whose contributions reflect their own viewpoints and creative treatments,” the statement said. “While contributors are not ABC journalists, all content broadcast by the ABC is subject to the ABC’s editorial standards, policies, and review processes.

“In this case, the film was intended to be satirical in tone and considered to be editorially justifiable within the context of the program.

“We recognise that audiences may respond differently to creative content and hold a range of views about how it is presented. One of the judges critiqued the film during their assessment, and that feedback was included in the program.”

Federal Ministers would not be drawn into comment, but State Minister for Women Simone McGurk said the program was for up-and-coming filmmakers, who were often young, and it was up to the broadcaster to make its own judgement. She said public dialogue should be kept respectful.

“Speaking about violence like it should, I don’t think it’s what I particularly don’t like when it is against women.”

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson, whose campaign has been publicly backed by Mrs Rinehart, hit out at the public broadcaster, describing the ABC as a “hard-core socialist arm of the left”.

“The ABC are hypocrites,” Senator Hanson said. “If they’re not hiring bikies, or people who support the anti-fada like Grace Tame, they’re attacking those on the conservative side of politics.

“It was only weeks ago the ABC’s outrage machine was in overdrive over comments made against Jacinta Allan being labelled a witch.

“Anyone who has watched the ABC would agree that the ABC are wasting taxpayers’ money on absolute rubbish TV.”