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Hancock show must go on

Lawyers for Gina Rinehart and Channel Nine have reached a confidential agreement about the second episode of the television mini-series House of Hancock.

On Friday, the New South Wales Supreme Court gave Mrs Rinehart permission to watch a copy of the program due to her concerns it may be defamatory.

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The matter returned to court briefly today.

It is understood the parties have reached a confidential agreement and the show is still scheduled to air on Sunday night.

The first part of the mini-series, which was broadcast last Sunday, portrayed details about Mrs Rinehart’s childhood and her father, the late Lang Hancock.

On Friday, Mrs Rinehart sought a copy of the show, arguing it might be defamatory and malicious and her lawyers told the Supreme Court the producers admitted making parts of the show up.

Justice Garling later said it was likely the show would have defamatory imputations for Mrs Rinehart.

He described the show as being based on “a colourful family saga”.

He noted that her lawyers had argued the show may damage her business interests.

Parts of the TV series ‘made up’

Tom Blackburn SC had told the court about alleged inaccuracies in the first instalment, and said the second was potentially malicious and defamatory.

Mrs Rinehart’s lawyers said in a letter to Channel Nine, that was tabled in court on Friday, that a conversation in the first episode in which Mr Hancock told his daughter that her future husband did not love her did not occur.

The court heard that it said the scene, in which Mr Hancock also told his daughter that no-one could love her, implied there was “something seriously wrong” with Mrs Rinehart.

The letter also said the episode misrepresented Mrs Rinehart’s wedding to Frank Rinehart.

“The show depicts a vulgar and garish wedding, which style of wedding did not occur, between Mrs Rinehart and her late husband Mr Frank Rinehart, demeaning both Mr and Mrs Rinehart,” the letter said.

In opposing the application, lawyers for Nine Entertainment told the court on Friday, most of Mrs Rinehart’s family history had already been made public before the series was made.

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