Rinehart subpoenas Fairfax journalist in trust feud Rinehart subpoenas Fairfax journalist In a battle over the family's iron ore riches, wealthy Gina Rinehart - a shareholder of Fairfax Media - has issued a subpoena against Fairfax journalist Adele Ferguson demanding to see any contact that may have been made between her and her eldest son John Hancock since September 2011. Gina Rinehart - Australia's richest person and the largest shareholder of Fairfax Media - has taken legal action against Fairfax journalist Adele Ferguson in an apparent attempt to force her to reveal her sources. We stand with Adele Ferguson on this matter, and support her 100 per cent. Garry Linnell, Fairfax Metro editorial director At the request of Mrs Rinehart's private company, Hancock Prospecting, the Supreme Court of Western Australia has issued a subpoena demanding emails, text messages, notebooks and any recordings of interviews that may have been made between her eldest son John Hancock and Ms Ferguson since September 2011. Gina Rinehart, chairwoman of Hancock Prospecting, has sought a court order for Fairfax journalist Adele Ferguson to reveal her sources. John Hancock was the only member of Mrs Rinehart's immediate family to contribute on the record to Ferguson's unauthorised biography, Gina Rinehart - The Untold Story of the Richest Woman in the World. Ms Ferguson, a senior Fairfax Media journalist, has been given until March 29 to comply with the court order and hand over records of interviews she may have had with Mr Hancock to court-appointed arbitrator Tony Fitzgerald, QC. The demand for Ms Ferguson's private records has been made as part of a legal dispute over a trust that controls the family's iron ore riches. Two of Mrs Rinehart's children - John Hancock and Bianca Rinehart - are trying to remove Mrs Rinehart as trustee. Ms Ferguson has been warned: "Failure to comply with this subpoena without lawful excuse is a contempt of court and may result in your arrest." The subpoena was served on Ms Ferguson at the Melbourne offices of law firm Minter Eillison today, after a previous attempt to serve her at her family home failed. Mrs Rinehart is one of the most powerful people in Australian media, with a 15 per cent stake in Fairfax and a seat on the board of Network Ten. "As a journalist I will not ever reveal my sources, or do anything that may disclose the source of information that has been provided to me," Ms Ferguson said. Garry Linnell, Fairfax Metro editorial director, said: "We stand with Adele Ferguson on this matter, and support her 100 per cent." Reactions from Fairfax directors Mrs Rinehart's long-time friend, fast food entrepeneur Jack Cowin, who sits on the Fairfax Media board, declined to comment. ""I have just hung up the phone from speaking with [Fairfax Media chairman] Roger Corbett, and he is going to be our spokesperson on this,"" Mr Cowin said. ""I'm not going to comment."" BusinessDay has approached Mr Corbett for comment. This is the second time Mrs Rinehart has attempted to subpoena a journalist. She is pursuing Steve Pennells, a Walkley Award-winning journalist with The West Australian, for recordings and notes that could reveal confidential sources. That case continues before the West Australian Supreme Court. Speaking from South Africa, funds manager Simon Marais, whose Allan Gray controls 11.43 per cent of Fairfax Media stock, said he would urgently seek further information about Mrs Rinehart's ""very unusual"" move. ""It does sound a very unusual thing to do but I haven't heard anything about it,"" he said. ""I will try to find out later today what's going on."" with Ben Butler