Home • ABC Race Around The World contestant Kate McGuinness apologises over ‘violent’ Gina Rinehart film
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ABC Race Around The World contestant Kate McGuinness apologises over ‘violent’ Gina Rinehart film
Originally published by Zac Nikolovski of Mumbrella
31.07.2026
The creator of a Race Around The World short film urging the use of a stick to turn Australia’s richest woman Gina Rinehart into “a big sausage roll”, has issued a formal apology on the ABC’s website saying she did not intend to promote violence.
In the statement, Kate McGuinness said she apologised to anyone who was offended by the film. “The sense of humour featured in each of my films on the Race Around The World program is farcical. 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,” she said.
The segment formed part of the ABC’s Race Around The World program, which follows six Australian filmmakers as they travel across 10 countries over 100 days, creating and presenting a series of short films along the way. McGuinness describes herself as a visual artist.
In the offending film, which aired on the ABC program on July 12, McGuinness portrayed a fictional scenario involving a violent attack on Rinehart. In the segment, McGuinness said: “Because when the revolution comes, will you hide under your bed or will you know exactly how to shove a stick right up Gina Rinehart’s butthole, stirring it round, mixing her guts up nice and smooth, making her into one big sausage roll, to make something outta nothing.”
The segment drew criticism following its broadcast, with Hancock Prospecting, Rinehart’s company, saying the ABC’s decision to broadcast the film was “appalling” and arguing it should not have passed through the broadcaster’s production and editorial review processes.
“This was not an unscripted live comment; it passed through production, editorial and broadcast processes,” a spokesperson said. “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.”
The spokesperson said a public apology was “the minimum appropriate response” and called for scrutiny of the decision-making process that allowed the film to air.
The ABC initially responded to criticism by saying the film was intended to be satirical in tone and was considered “editorially justifiable” within the context of the program. The broadcaster said that while contributors were not ABC journalists, all content broadcast by the ABC was subject to its editorial standards, policies and review processes.
The matter was later referred to the ABC’s independent Ombudsman for review, which reports directly to the broadcaster’s board.
Alongside McGuinness’ apology, the broadcaster said it “won’t be commenting further while the review is in progress.”
The creator of a Race Around The World short film urging the use of a stick to turn Australia’s richest woman Gina Rinehart into “a big sausage roll”, has issued a formal apology on the ABC’s website saying she did not intend to promote violence.
In the statement, Kate McGuinness said she apologised to anyone who was offended by the film. “The sense of humour featured in each of my films on the Race Around The World program is farcical. 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,” she said.
The segment formed part of the ABC’s Race Around The World program, which follows six Australian filmmakers as they travel across 10 countries over 100 days, creating and presenting a series of short films along the way. McGuinness describes herself as a visual artist.
In the offending film, which aired on the ABC program on July 12, McGuinness portrayed a fictional scenario involving a violent attack on Rinehart. In the segment, McGuinness said: “Because when the revolution comes, will you hide under your bed or will you know exactly how to shove a stick right up Gina Rinehart’s butthole, stirring it round, mixing her guts up nice and smooth, making her into one big sausage roll, to make something outta nothing.”
The segment drew criticism following its broadcast, with Hancock Prospecting, Rinehart’s company, saying the ABC’s decision to broadcast the film was “appalling” and arguing it should not have passed through the broadcaster’s production and editorial review processes.
“This was not an unscripted live comment; it passed through production, editorial and broadcast processes,” a spokesperson said. “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.”
The spokesperson said a public apology was “the minimum appropriate response” and called for scrutiny of the decision-making process that allowed the film to air.
The ABC initially responded to criticism by saying the film was intended to be satirical in tone and was considered “editorially justifiable” within the context of the program. The broadcaster said that while contributors were not ABC journalists, all content broadcast by the ABC was subject to its editorial standards, policies and review processes.
The matter was later referred to the ABC’s independent Ombudsman for review, which reports directly to the broadcaster’s board.
Alongside McGuinness’ apology, the broadcaster said it “won’t be commenting further while the review is in progress.”