What apology over Rinehart skit tells us about Hugh Marks’ ABC. It’s not good

August 11, 2026 — 1:41pm

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Can we please give this kid a break? I’m talking Kate McGuinness, the runner-up in the ABC’s Race Around the World. She is currently on the receiving end of a massive bollocking from Gina Rinehart and her acolytes.

Don’t know the backstory? A handful of extremely precocious filmmakers killed themselves for months to win the golden ticket – a chance to make a half-hour documentary for the ABC. Look, even with Hugh Marks in charge (and chair Kim Williams lurking over his shoulder), it’s still an amazing opportunity.

Those of us who saw the first iteration of this hyperreality show 20-odd years ago remember it so vividly. We also remember John Safran, whose fearless satirical take-downs of religion made him a national star. How weird that we now think it’s even worse to disrespect money than it is to disrespect religion.

Now, one of those contestants was Kate McGuinness. She poked fun at mining magnate Rinehart. I mean, what she said and did was not funny in any way, shape or form. I don’t have a great sense of humour myself. For example, I watch what passes for comedy and nothing ever happens. But I did run it past a few funsters in my life, and they didn’t think it was funny........

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