The empire strikes back - Gina Rinehart style.
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In what is largely being interpreted as a public relations offensive and, after spending years avoiding media scrutiny, Australia's richest person Gina Rinehart, is set to appear on the ABC's Australian Story over two episodes, beginning on Monday, in what is being billed as her most revealing interview yet.
An Australian Story spokesperson said the Rinehart program had come late in the piece after more than five months of sustained effort and negotiation.
Given Gina Rinehart's run of bad publicity in recent weeks her decision to finally agree to an interview would appear somewhat fortuitous.
The unusual move comes after Rinehart revealed she was suing Cordell Jigsaw Zapruder, the creators of the House of Hancock miniseries which aired on Channel Nine amid much controversy, for misleading and deceptive conduct.
However, it has emerged that Rinehart's prior claim for defamation and malicious falsehood is likely to be dropped.
Rinehart had filed documents in the NSW Supreme Court, claiming both episodes of the two-part series - which attracted a national audience of two million viewers for each instalment - defamed her.
In May, Rinehart's eldest daughter Bianca was handed control of the family's trust, worth more than $4 billion.
The NSW Supreme Court appointed Bianca as trustee following the family's long-running legal battle.
The expected opening of the Roy Hill mine in September will fulfil the Rinehart family dream to own and operate its own mine.
However, the dynasty is under threat as bitter legal disputes with two of Rinehart's children, John and Bianca, reach their climax.
It was Rinehart's father, Lang Hancock, who catapulted the family to fame and fortune when he discovered the largest iron ore deposit in the world. It was the catalyst for what would become Western Australia's booming iron ore industry.
In the exclusive interview, Rinehart reflects on the pioneering exploits of her early ancestors and talks candidly about her father's triumphs and struggles, her pride in the imminent completion of the Roy Hill mine, and the business and family troubles she has encountered along the way.
The story includes interviews with close friends and confidants John Singleton, who described the Rinehart family story as a "Shakespearean epic", Imelda Roche, right-hand man Tad Watroba and Fairfax Media journalists Adele Ferguson and Jennifer Hewett.
PS was told on Tuesday that the producers of Australian Story were still working on the final version of the interview.
