Australia’s national broadcaster, the ABC, is facing an unprecedented backlash and calls for systemic accountability after airing a broadcast that explicitly glorified graphic, sexualized, and political violence against mining magnate Gina Rinehart.
The controversy—surrounding a segment on the flagship amateur filmmaking show Race Around The World—has ignited widespread fury, with critics accusing the public network of abandoning its editorial charter under the guise of “satire”.
The Broadcast: “A Very Relaxing Video”
The incident stems from a broadcast featuring contestant Kate Guinness and a character described as a “Scottish forest warrior ninja”.
What began as a pseudo-wellness parody titled “A Very Relaxing Video” took a disturbing and violent turn in its final moments. The character delivered a graphic, explicit monologue describing severe physical torture and violence directed at 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… mixing her guts up nice and smooth, making her into one big sausage roll to make something out of nothing.”
Rather than being left on the cutting room floor, the pre-recorded video passed through multiple levels of ABC production, editorial review, and broadcasting channels before airing during prime time to a national audience.
“Disgusting and Unacceptable”: Hancock Prospecting Hits Back
Hancock Prospecting issued a scathing statement condemning the national broadcaster for permitting graphic violence against a private citizen to be framed as public entertainment.
The company highlighted the hypocrisy of a taxpayer-funded institution normalising extreme violence while claiming to champion anti-violence and safety standards across Australia:
- Glorying Violence: Hancock Prospecting stated the video graphically illustrated and described Mrs. Rinehart being tortured and murdered in a horrific, sexualized manner.
- The “Satire” Shield: The spokesperson rejected the broadcaster’s defence, arguing that hiding behind “satire” to excuse graphic violence is an abuse of public funding and outside the ABC Charter.
- Demand for Action: Hancock Prospecting demanded a full public apology and an immediate investigation into the executives and producers who cleared the segment for air.
“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 Hancock Prospecting spokesperson declared. “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.”
The ABC’s Defence vs. Public Accountability
In response to the mounting public outrage, an ABC spokesperson defended the decision, describing the segment as “satirical in tone” and noting that Race Around The World features amateur filmmakers presenting their own creative viewpoints.
The broadcaster maintained that while the content was “considered to be editorially justifiable within the context of the program,” it acknowledged that one of the show’s judges had critiqued the clip during the episode.
| Issue | Hancock Prospecting / Critics | ABC Official Response |
| Nature of Content | Graphic description of sexualized torture, political violence, and murder. | Creative expression and “satirical in tone.” |
| Editorial Oversight | Pre-recorded segment passed through multiple production layers without intervention. | Subject to standard editorial guidelines; judged within the context of amateur filmmaking. |
| Public Charter Responsibility | Normalises violence against women and breaches basic public broadcast standards. | Contents reflect individual viewpoints of amateur contributors. |
| Demanded Outcome | Full public apology, removal of content, and accountability for approving staff. | Noted judges’ on-air critique was included in the final broadcast. |
A Line Crossed in Australian Media
The scandal has renewed fierce debate over the ABC’s editorial standards and taxpayer funding. Media commentators and political leaders across the country are questioning how a national broadcaster—bound by strict community standards—could greenlight explicit depictions of violence against a prominent Australian woman under the banner of comedy.
As pressure mounts on the ABC executive board, callouts for legislative oversight and formal communications authority inquiries continue to grow, putting the network’s internal review processes under an unprecedented spotlight.