ABC apologises for Race Around the World episode featuring Gina Rinehart reference

The ABC has apologised for a Race Around the World episode containing remarks about mining magnate Gina Rinehart AO, despite the broadcaster's formal complaints handling process finding it did not breach editorial standards.The ABC Ombudsman has found that the episode, which aired on July 12, did not breach the ABC Editorial Standards relating to harm and offence.The episode featured contestant Kate McGuinness describing a fictional scenario that involved a violent attack on Mrs Rinehart, including shoving "a stick right up Gina Rinehart's butt hole, stirring it round, mixing her guts up nice and smooth, to make one big sausage roll to make something out of nothing".In apologising to Mrs Rinehart, ABC managing director Hugh Marks said the segment fell short of community expectations.Hugh Marks has apologised to Mrs Rinehart, saying the episode "has fallen short of community expectations". (774 ABC Melbourne)"While the Ombudsman has found that the film did not breach the ABC's editorial policies, the ABC acknowledges the episode has fallen short of community expectations," Mr Marks said in a statement."The ABC apologises to Mrs Rinehart and to anyone else affected or upset by the publication of the film."Mrs Rinehart's company, Hancock Prospecting, wrote to the ABC Board on July 23 calling on the ABC to immediately remove the material from all ABC platforms, publicly apologise to Mrs Rinehart, and for a comprehensive investigation into how the material came to be commissioned, approved and published, together with full accountability for those responsible, a company statement said.Following complaints, the matter was referred to the ABC Ombudsman.The Ombudsman said the question it considered was not "whether the remarks were offensive or in good taste but whether any likely offence was justified by the editorial context"."Having regard to the program format, the filmmaker's established creative style, the surreal and hyperbolic nature of the film, the absences of any visual depiction of violence, and the criticism expressed by the judging panel," the Ombudsman found that a reasonable audience member "would be unlikely to interpret the remarks as a genuine call for, endorsement of, or encouragement of violence."McGuinness released a statement through the ABC last week, apologising to anyone she offended and saying the sense of humour featured in her films on Race Around the World was "farcical"."In no way was it my intention to promote violence," she said."My writing is cartoonish and always satirical."Unfortunately, jokes do not land with everyone. Its purpose was never to be taken literally."Race Around the World is a documentary reality show in which contestants create films that are judged by John Safran, David Caesar and Leigh Sales. (ABC)McGuinness shot A Very Relaxing Video in Scotland, using a monotone voice-over to make a satirical film featuring a Scottish "forest warrior ninja" and tips on how to "make something out of nothing".The judges, John Safran, David Caesar and Leigh Sales, gave McGuiness feedback on the film, none of it glowing.Sales said she liked the film, except for the change in tone towards the end."You backed it in with a very easy, kinda nasty gag about Gina Rinehart, so what you were saying to the viewer was, 'We're all in this together, unless you don't share my politics,'" Sales said.On Tuesday, the acting Prime Minister Richard Marles described the sketch as "completely inappropriate and unacceptable" but stopped short of calling for the video to be removed from ABC sites."We do think that it is appropriate that the ABC has referred this to the Ombudsman and I'm surprised that this video is still on its site," Mr Marles said.The Greens communications spokesperson Sarah Hanson-Young called the segment "disgusting" and urged the ABC to apologise.The ABC's Hugh Marks said, "As part of our review of this matter, we have considered whether the guidance in the ABC Editorial Policies adequately reflects current community expectations.""We have also considered whether the relevant guidance sufficiently distinguishes between news and non-news content."As a result, the ABC will amend its guidance as it applies to violence.The film has been removed from the ABC's platforms and will be replaced with an edited video without the material subject to the complaint.