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Nine and Cordell Jigsaw ‘unreservedly apologises’ to Gina Rinehart over any hurt caused by House of Hancock

Nine and production company Cordell Jigsaw have apologised to mining magnate Gina Rhinehart over any hurt caused by its mini-series House of Hancock, stating the series was a drama and not a documentary.

The apology follows on from Rhinehart taking Nine and CJZ to court over the series which aired on the Nine Network in February last year.

Rhinehart initially sought an interlocutory injunction preventing the broadcast of part two of the series which resulted in Rhinehart reaching a confidential settlement with Nine which saw edits made to the second episode before it aired.

The billionaire then returned to court in an effort to stop Nine from selling uncensored versions of the miniseries on DVD in the future. Part one of the series was watched by 1.383m while part two pulled in 1.380m.

The apology from Nine, signed by CEO Hugh Marks, states: “That mini-series was a drama, not a documentary, and certain matters were fictionalised for dramatic purposes.

“Nine and Cordell Jigsaw accept that Mrs Rinehart had a very loving and close relationship with her mother, father and husband, and has with Hope and Ginia. They also acknowledge the significant contribution that Mrs Rinehart has made to Australia through her years of hard work and dedicated and by her investment in this country, to its industry, economy and to the employment of Australians and by her longstanding support of elite sport and numerous worthwhile charities.

“Nine and Cordell Jigsaw accept that Mrs Rhinehart found the broadcast to be inaccurate. That was certainly not the intention of Nine or Cordell Jigsaw, and each unreservedly apologises to Mrs Rinehart and her family for any hurt or offence caused by the broadcast and its promotion.”

Nine’s apology to Gina Rhinehart

It is understood Nine will not rebroadcast, or stream, the series again.

Hancock Prospecting has said Rinehart is “pleased” she has received a public apology.

The mining company’s statement said: “This case was not about money. It was about Mrs Rinehart standing up for her deeply loved family members to try to stop the further spreading of unfair and grossly disgraceful falsehoods about her family, especially when certain family members are no longer here able to defend themselves.

“This matter was not just about the fundamental right of Mrs Rinehart and her family not to have lies and misrepresentations spread publicly about them, but Mrs Rinehart hopes that this matter will lead to the greater protection of others from such unfair conduct by the media and lead our politicians to activate long overdue reform in this area.”

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