Dave Hughes has delivered a blunt assessment of Erin Patterson’s situation, as reports emerge that the convicted mushroom murderer has been prescribed taxpayer-funded Ozempic weight-loss injections while in prison.

Patterson, a 51-year-old mother of two, is being held at Melbourne’s Dame Phyllis Frost Centre, one of Victoria’s most high-profile women’s prisons, as she awaits the result of an appeal.

She is serving a sentence carrying a minimum non-parole period of 33 years for the deaths of three relatives who ate death cap mushrooms hidden in beef Wellingtons at her home in Leongatha, in Victoria’s Gippsland region, in July 2023.

A jury found Patterson guilty of murdering her former in-laws, Don and Gail Patterson, along with Gail’s sister, Heather Wilkinson.

Heather’s husband, Ian Wilkinson, became critically unwell after the meal but survived. Patterson was also convicted of attempting to murder him.

Patterson is being held in solitary confinement for at least 22 hours a day at the maximum-security prison.

However, it was revealed on Tuesday morning that the self-confessed ‘binge eater’ was recently approved to receive the weight loss drug Ozempic, reportedly because she is ‘isolated and unable to exercise’.

‘Staff safety is a huge concern, yet management appear more concerned about the weight of a convicted killer,’ an upset prison source told the Herald Sun.

The news sparked outrage among Australians, with Hughes the latest to join the chorus.

‘She’s in solitary confinement. She’s not trying to keep away from the buffet on a cruise,’ the Australian comedian said.

‘Just ask for less food through the flap, Erin. Or, if you really want to lose weight, just ask them to make your special beef Wellington.

‘I think the weight would fall off pretty quick then.’

The weight loss jab costs $134 a month but is heavily subsidised under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme for eligible patients with type 2 diabetes, reducing the cost to just $25.

Unsubsidised weight loss injections such as Mounjaro cost anywhere from $285 to $700 per month, depending on the prescribed dose.

According to the Department of Justice and Community Safety, inmates’ access to weight loss drugs is based on medical advice from a doctor.

‘Prescriptions are only given by clinicians when there’s a clear medical need, like preventing serious conditions such as type 2 diabetes,’ a spokesperson said.

During her 11-week trial, Patterson opened up about her long struggle with binge eating and body image issues from a young age.

The details emerged while she was explaining why she ate several pieces of cake following the fatal lunch before later vomiting.

Patterson appealed her conviction on seven grounds at a recent Court of Appeal hearing, including what she claimed was a ‘substantial miscarriage of justice’ during the 11-week trial.

One of her appeal grounds is that she was forced to give evidence at trial because the trial judge excluded mushroom photos.

The Director of Public Prosecutions also appealed the length of Patterson’s sentence, arguing it was ‘manifestly inadequate’.

Prosecutors are seeking a full life sentence without any possibility of release.

Justices Stephen McLeish, Lesley Taylor and Peter Kidd will hand down their decision on the two appeals at a later date.

Patterson is not the first convicted murderer to be approved for Ozempic while behind bars.

Alicia Schiller is serving 16 years after killing housemate and mother-of-three Tyrelle Evertsen-Mostert, 31, in a drug-fuelled rage in Geelong, Victoria, on November 9, 2014.

Schiller has been given Ozempic by her prison doctor after gaining weight while behind bars and has undergone eyelid surgery to remove excess skin.

It follows reports that Schiller turned her cell into a ‘candy shop’ and regularly ate lollies, chips, chocolate and soft drinks. 

Her victim’s mother branded the news as ‘absolutely ridiculous’ and a waste of taxpayers’ money.

‘Why bother giving her Ozempic? She’s got to get off that stuff on her own,’ Jo Evertsen-Mostert said.

‘If she wants Ozempic, ban her from all her sweets. Do that first for a year and see how she goes.

‘She was big when she went in, she can be big when she comes out.’

Minister Nick Staikos previously defended the use of weight loss injections for inmates as a way to prevent serious illness.

‘I’m not generally someone who has sympathy for people who commit terrible crimes, but what I would say is this: these are decisions made by clinicians,’ he said.

‘Prevention and preventing serious illness will actually save the taxpayer in the long run.’

South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas has delivered a sharp warning to Australians calling for migration cuts, saying lower immigration would only make the nation’s biggest challenges “worse”.

Speaking at the Sydney Institute on Wednesday night, Malinauskas made a forceful case for skilled migration, arguing that overseas workers bring a major economic upside and help strengthen Australia’s public finances.

‘A primary skilled migrant delivers a net benefit of about $415,000 to government finances over their lifetime in Australia, while the average native-born Australian costs the government around $85,000,’ he said.

‘Want more affordable housing? We need more sparkies, tilers, roofers and bricklayers. Want Mum and Dad to get an aged care bed? We need more trained care workers.

‘If you value public education and Medicare but worry about government debt, migration helps pay for it. It’s that simple.

‘Skilled migrants are big net taxpayers … Not only is immigration not a drain on our public services, migration is part of the reason governments can afford to pay for those services.’

The staunchly pro-migration Labor state leader used his argument to warn against falling prey to the migration crackdown desires of Pauline Hanson’s One Nation Party which has surged in the polls since the May 2025 federal election.

‘I’m here to insist that Australians in positions of leadership must now be on stages like this one and explain how unreasonably slashing our immigration intake is not going to fix our problems,’ Malinauskas said.

‘It is only going to make them worse.’ 

‘The prospect of mainstream politics descending into a race to the bottom over who can cut migration the most is madness.’

Malinauskas said people worried about migration rates were more likely to be anxious about economic impacts, including housing supply, than they were to be racist.

On the national scene, debate is intensifying as One Nation links Australia’s migration rate with the housing crisis and inner-city crime.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke delayed a National Press Club speech in August in which he was widely expected to announce migration cuts. It is understood the cabinet is still finalising plans.

Australia’s net overseas migration fell to 301,000 in 2025, which was a 45 per cent decrease from the post-Covid peak in 2023 and down 9 per cent from 2024.

One Nation has called for the rate to be slashed to 130,000 visas per year, though numbers presented by party members in recent months have varied.

The coalition wants lower levels correlating to the number of homes built the year prior, while pursuing what its policy terms a ‘values-based’ scheme to ensure migrants support the so-called Australian way of life.

On Thursday morning, Opposition Leader Angus Taylor said migration levels remained too high, arguing that population growth was outstripping Australia’s ability to build enough homes. 

‘When you have 550,000 in a year, and housing is well below 200,000, it doesn’t match. It just doesn’t match,’ he said. 

Taylor said Australia needed to ensure housing, infrastructure and services kept pace with the population. 

‘We need to make sure that we have enough houses for the population growth we’ve got in this country.’ 

He said that was ‘common sense’, but argued it ‘has not been the common sense of the [Albanese] government’. 

But Mr Malinauskas did not agree with the coalition’s arguments, calling for a more nuanced understanding from all parties on skills shortages.

‘Australia doesn’t really have a migration crisis so much as a housing crisis,’ he told ABC Radio.

‘If we have a housing crisis, we would do well to focus our skills policy on making sure that we’re bringing in the very workers that we require in the housing and construction industry.’

The premier said it was incumbent on leaders to make strong economic arguments for a well-calibrated migration program that did not arbitrarily block people from entering the country.

The Prince of Wales is set to unveil a major new campaign today aimed at improving awareness of suicide prevention by harnessing the influence and reach of sport.

Prince William has teamed up with a host of leading sporting figures, including England captain Harry Kane, Formula 1 driver George Russell, former footballer Alan Shearer, Olympian Dame Kelly Holmes, and cycling champions Sir Jason and Dame Laura Kenny, to launch the On Your Side “toolkit”. The practical guide is designed to help people recognise potential warning signs, deepen their understanding of suicide prevention and feel more confident offering support before a crisis escalates.

Suicide remains the leading cause of death among men under 50 in the UK.

Although the future king’s initiative is intended to support people of all genders, organisers hope sport can open up a vital new route to reaching men who may be less likely to discuss their feelings or seek help when they are struggling.

Speaking at Everton football club today to mark World Suicide Prevention Day, William will say: ‘My hope is that every sporting organisation in the country will look at what is being launched today and ask a question: “What more can we do?” 

‘Because the opportunity before us is enormous. Sport has the ability to reach people who may never walk through the door of a mental healthcare service. 

‘People who may never seek support themselves and may be struggling in silence. The sporting community can change that.’

As well as the practical guide, which will be distributed to sporting organisations both grassroots and professional the length and breadth of the country, stars including Kane and Russell have recorded a special film with the prince showcasing the power of having a conversation about suicide.

Today William will host an event at the Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool, the home of Everton Football Club, attended by representatives from across the sports world and well-known figures including Dame Kelly Holmes, Gabby Logan, Campbell Hatton, Jill Scott and Dame Laura Kenny

Leaders from major sports organisations will also announce details of their commitments to the initiative.

The Football Association, of which the prince is Patron, will commit to embedding the toolkit across its entire organisation, as well as its community and grassroots football network.

The Premier League and British Cycling will announce their commitment to prioritising suicide prevention across their organisations, and Team GB will use the resource with all athletes and staff.

In addition, over a dozen other sports organisations have signed up to become champions of the toolkit, committing to embedding practical, evidence-based suicide prevention techniques across their organisation, using the resource to strengthen their approach and help inspire wider action across all sports.

The initiative is the result of a collaboration between William’s charitable arm, The Royal Foundation, the British Standards Institution and the charity Chasing the Stigma.

Hazel Detsiny, Executive Director of The Royal Foundation, said: ‘This toolkit is the first of its kind, uniting the sector across all sports and at every level, with the aim of bringing about meaningful change.

‘Sport can be a powerful force for connection and support, and everyone engaged in sport has the power to make a difference to those at risk of suicide.

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‘Research commissioned by The Royal Foundation shows that the sports sector has the potential to be a powerful platform for suicide prevention but is hampered by stigma – particularly among men and elite athletes – as well as gaps in skills, knowledge and resources.

‘The findings show strong goodwill and pockets of effective practice across sport, but that the sector’s scale and diversity mean activity is often siloed, inconsistent, and unevenly resourced. At grassroots level, many clubs lack clear guidance on how to recognise risk and respond appropriately.’

The toolkit explains how to create safe and supportive environments where people feel able to speak up and support others in distress, including outlining appropriate language and providing conversation starters.

It also hopes to make suicide prevention part of everyday practice, including policies and ways of working.

Footballer Alan Shearer suddenly lost his best friend and ex-Newcastle teammate, Gary Speed, in 2011.

The two men had seen each other just hours before his death and had been planning a holiday together when Wales manager Speed apparently took his own life at the age of just 42.

He said: ‘For me this is obviously very personal and it feels particularly poignant that it is being launched at Everton, a club that meant so much to Gary Speed. 

‘We can’t all know when somebody is struggling but we can all be better at asking and listening and helping someone find the right support. 

‘That’s what On Your Side is all about, giving people across sport practical advice to help start those conversations. Prince William has done a huge amount around mental health and support.

‘You don’t have to be an expert, you don’t have to have all the answers, but I hope that everyone in sport will use the toolkit. We can all be on the same side.’

A spokesman for the Prince of Wales said it was well known that he has worked for many years to support changing the national conversation on mental health and this was a development of that.

‘The prince is very passionate about sport and truly believes in its ability to bring people together,’ they said.

He has already invested £1 million of his charity’s funds to set up a national suicide prevention network.

For confidential support, call Samaritans on 116 123, visit samaritans.org or visit https://www.thecalmzone.net/get-support 

Allison Langdon became emotional as she reflected on the death of her friend Gavin Larkin.

The 47-year-old A Current Affair host appeared on the No Filter podcast, where she revealed she is still deeply affected by the loss of R U OK Day? founder Gavin Larkin, who died in 2011.

“Gav, who created R U OK, was one of my husband’s best mates. He was in his 20s when his dad took his own life, and it wasn’t until he had his own kids when he had the thought of, ‘Wow, Dad had all this and it still wasn’t enough,’” Ally said.

“He said to me that he wanted to launch R U OK Day? in Bondi Beach and asked if I could get the Today show there!”

Larkin died from cancer in September 2011 at the age of 42, two years after launching the national suicide prevention initiative.

His family suffered another devastating loss two years later when his 14-year-old son, Gus, also died from cancer.

“Gav passed away from Non-Hodgkins lymphoma, and then two years later so did beautiful Gus,” Ally continued.

Langdon then fought back tears while describing the immense burden the two tragedies had placed on Larkin’s widow, Maryanne.

“That was the toughest thing for Gav, knowing that she would have to go at it alone. That was brutal,” Ally said through tears.

Ally said the heartbreaking tragedies had inspired her to partner with Larkin’s initiative and help others maintain their mental health. 

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‘So R U Ok Day is also a chance for us to check within ourselves, if we are okay. If you think someone has been a bit quiet, check in on them to see if they are okay,’ she said. 

‘It is a reminder to check in with mates, our family, and ourselves, it never hurts to do so.’ 

Ally helped first launch the nationwide initiative on the Today show in 2009 and has been involved with it ever since.

‘I was trying to get them to do the weather down at Bondi Beach to launch the first R U OK Day. But they were like, “No, it’s too dark”. I could understand where they were coming from,’ she told Women’s Weekly magazine.

‘I remember, the hardest conversation was calling Gav and saying, “Look, it’s not going to fly”. He just refused to accept that as an answer. 

‘So I went back and explained that we were talking about having each other’s backs and checking in. That was an important part of it for Gav – as tough as the subject matter is, the narrative and the conversation around it had to be positive and uplifting.’

She finished by saying her involvement in the organisation had helped her fully understand the importance of helping others.

‘It teaches you that you never know what’s around the corner. It teaches you to make the most of every moment, to appreciate the people in your life, to be mindful of the path you take,’ Ally said.

‘It also reminds you to do lots of checking in, of the importance of kindness and just being a good human, a good friend.’