0/5

Hancock children criticise Australian Story profile

John Hancock and Bianca Rinehart question ABC's profile of their mother while they are still amid legal action.

2015-07-05_0110

Gina Rinehart’s two eldest children John Hancock and Bianca Rinehart have criticised ABC’s decision to screen a profile of their mother on Australian Story while they are still amid legal action.

While Mr Hancock and Ms Rinehart won a 3½-year case against their mother over control of a $4 billion-plus family trust, Gina Rinehart is fighting allegations that she engaged in misleading and deceptive conduct in relation to their share of the $10bn Roy Hill iron ore project.

She is seeking to have the dispute heard in arbitration rather than in open court.

The Australian reports their lawyers have written to ABC managing director Mark Scott questioning public funds used for a controlled interview when she is avoiding scrutiny by a court.

Last week presenter Caroline Jones told TV Tonight the profile was initiated by them several months ago.

“We embarked on the programme many months ago without any agreement from Mrs. Rinehart to take part. In fact it’s been very difficult to have her take part. We were really only given a short time with her. I hope we’ve made the best of it,” she said.

Part 2 will include recent legal battles with the Hancock children.

“We will see appearances of them in Part 2 which comes more up to date, but still in a way that puts the present conflicts into an historical context, and thus I think offers the audience a new prism through which to view these events.”

Part 1 airs 8pm Monday on ABC.

Leave a Reply