The ABC’s Managing Director Hugh Marks has apologised for airing an episode of the broadcaster’s documentary program Race Around the World, which featured a satirical joke aimed at Gina Rinehart, despite an investigation by the ABC Ombudsman finding the episode did not breach any editorial policies.
The ABC has also removed the joke from the episode, which is on streaming platforms, even though the Ombudsman ruled that the “satirical treatment provided sufficient editorial justification for the content”.
Now, Marks says he intends to change the ABC’s rules on what it is allowed to broadcast, which could prevent similar jokes being aired in the future.
The joke aired on the July 12 episode of Race Around the World, and was contained in a short film produced by contestant Kate McGuinness. The film, which was called “A Very Relaxing Video” was set in the Scottish highlands, was a humorous guide to helping the audience find mindfulness in a stressful world.
Towards the end of the film, McGuinness narrates:“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 butt hole, stirring it around, mixing her guts up nice and smooth, making her into one big sausage roll to make something out of nothing.”
