Judge to rule on joint hearing of Rinehart actions against two journalists

Hancock Prospecting has served subpoenas seeking notes and recordings from two journalists — Adele Ferguson and Steve Pennells — about coverage of Gina Rinehart, her estranged son John Hancock and a billion-dollar family trust. Both journalists are invoking Australia’s "shield law" protections and have refused to disclose their sources.

The journalists are Adele Ferguson, a business writer for The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald (part of Fairfax Media), and Steve Pennells of The West Australian. Both have been served subpoenas by Hancock Prospecting and are resisting disclosure of their sources.

According to the article, Steve Pennells was compelled by subpoena to hand over all notes and recordings relating to Mrs Rinehart, her son John Hancock and the billion-dollar trust at the centre of the family dispute. Adele Ferguson has been served with a similar subpoena.

The shield law issue concerns whether journalists can be compelled to reveal their confidential sources and unpublished materials in legal proceedings. Both Ferguson and Pennells are arguing that shield law protections should prevent them from exposing their sources to Hancock Prospecting.

Yes — Ferguson’s lawyers raised the possibility of joining her shield law arguments with Pennells’ case. The matter was before Justice Janine Pritchard in the Supreme Court of Western Australia, who adjourned the question to Friday morning to decide whether the two cases will be heard together.

Justice Pritchard and lawyers for Hancock Prospecting expressed reluctance to further delay the Pennells matter, indicating concern about postponing an already long-running subpoena dispute. The court must balance timeliness with fairness when considering joining cases.

Everyday investors may want to follow the case because it involves high-profile figures and companies in the Australian media and resources sectors. Notably, Mrs Rinehart is Fairfax Media’s largest shareholder, so legal disputes and media coverage about her could have reputational or governance implications that investors monitor.

Investors should monitor reputable news updates on the Supreme Court proceedings, including any decisions by Justice Pritchard about combining the cases, and consider any official company announcements from Fairfax Media or Hancock Prospecting. Staying informed will help assess any potential governance or market implications tied to the dispute.