Originally published by Oscar Godsell of News24.
11.08.2026
The taxpayer-funded ABC failed to represent the Australian community by refusing to apologise over the depiction of Gina Rinehart’s murder for almost a month.
News24.com.au / YouGov polling found more than half of Australians believed the national broadcaster should have said sorry for the offensive segment.
The poll, conducted between August 4 and 10 and spanning the days before and after the ABC apologised, found 56 per cent of Australians thought the ABC should apologise.
By contrast, just 27 per cent said the ABC should not apologise for the segment, which called for Ms Rinehart to be sodomised and killed.
The findings suggest the ABC’s initial decision to stand by the segment for four weeks was out of step with a clear majority of the community.
Left-wing voters were far more likely to tolerate the ABC segment calling for Ms Rinehart’s murder, including 67 per cent of Greens voters.
Labor voters were more divided, with 46 per cent saying the ABC should apologise and 35 per cent who said it should not.
Coalition voters were overwhelmingly in favour of an apology, with 71 per cent saying the ABC should apologise, as well as 77 per cent of One Nation voters.
The results came after the ABC spent weeks defending the controversial segment, initially describing it as “editorially justifiable” and declining to remove it from iView.
The short film, created by Kate McGuinness and broadcast as part of the ABC’s Race Around The World, concluded with a graphic fictional depiction of Ms Rinehart’s murder.
The voiceover said: “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, stirring it round, mixing her guts up nice and smooth, to make one big sausage roll to make something out of nothing.”
Hancock Prospecting demanded that the ABC remove the segment and apologise, while launching legal action alleging serious civil and criminal breaches.
The ABC initially defended the segment before it was referred to the ABC Ombudsman after several complaints.
The ABC Ombudsman ultimately found the segment did not breach the broadcaster’s editorial policies, but concluded it had fallen short of community expectations.
Announcing the apology on August 6, the ABC managing director said the broadcaster had decided the treatment of Ms Rinehart was not fair.
“The ABC apologises to Mrs Rinehart and to anyone else affected or upset by the publication of the film,” Mr Marks said in a statement.
“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 edited on the ABC’s platforms to remove the relevant material.”
The ABC has also issued an on-air apology, saying it was sorry for the “fictional scenario that involved a violent attack on Gina Rinehart”.
The ABC’s own Editorial Policy on Harm and Offence states that content likely to cause harm or offence must be justified by its editorial context.
The policy also states that the reporting or depiction of violence, tragedy or trauma must be handled with “extreme sensitivity”.
While the policy allows fictional depictions of violence, it expressly warns content makers about the possibility of causing distress to audiences.
The ABC has since acknowledged that its existing guidance did not adequately distinguish between news and non-news content.
Throughout the controversy, Communications Minister Anika Wells rejected suggestions she “sets the standard” for the ABC.
Asked by News24 why she was not joining Labor colleagues in calling for an apology and the segment’s removal, Ms Wells said it was not her job to critique the ABC.
“I’m the Minister for Communications and it is my job first and foremost to respect the editorial independence of the ABC,” Ms Wells said on Thursday.
“Last week when News24 first asked me about this I said it was a good thing for it to be referred to the ABC Ombudsman. That’s what’s happened.”
Ms Wells said it was her “personal view” that the segment was unacceptable and if the ABC agreed with her, it should apologise – but did not directly call on them to say sorry.
“If the Ombudsman finds that, like in my view, it is unacceptable, it would be appropriate for the ABC to issue an apology,” Ms Wells said.
“But what’s important is that process plays out first and that’s what any news publisher would expect the Minister for Communications to act in this process.”
Her refusal to weigh in on the matter comes despite Energy Minister Chris Bowen saying he expected an apology.
Then-Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles also said the segment should be removed
