Why Is an Australian Billionaire Paying Netanyahu's Lawyers? | Scam of the Week

James Packer has paid more than a million dollars to Benjamin Netanyahu's law firm to fight corruption charges, and Scam of the Week goes to him. Victorian Liberal leader Jess Wilson used a synagogue speech to promise wider bans on language she calls incitement, naming intifada. Liberal senator Sarah Henderson used Senate estimates to accuse Michael West Media of anti-Semitism under privilege, then offered no evidence when asked all week. Chapters: 00:00 Opening Rundown 00:33 Henderson's Senate Spray 02:24 Chasing an Answer 04:26 What's the Scam 06:29 Victorian Election 07:38 Wilson's Speech Bans 08:38 Shoebridge Press Club 10:44 Trickle Up Economics 13:00 The Sensible Centre 14:06 Iran Targeting Claims 16:09 Inflation and Rates 19:10 Packer and Netanyahu Articles Mentioned: Jess Wilson vows to ban 'globalise the intifada' phrase if elected / https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/jess-wilson-vows-to-ban-globalise-the-intifada-phrase-if-elected-20261025-p618fn.html Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thewestreport Website: https://michaelwest.com.au

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Patterson cooked

By LIAM DURKIN     VICTORIA’S Court of Appeal last week sentenced Erin Patterson to life without parole. In a country that doesn’t have the death penalty, there is no harsher outcome. The infamous ‘mushroom murderer’ is now only the second woman in Australia to receive the sentence. Patterson’s high-profile murder trial put Morwell on the world map last year. She was found guilty by a jury sitting in Latrobe Valley Law Courts of murdering three of her in-laws and attempting to murder another after serving them beef wellingtons laced with poisonous mushrooms. She was sentenced to life imprisonment with a non-parole period of 33 years. Patterson, who has always maintained the deaths were a “terrible accident”, appealed her conviction last August. Her lawyers argued that the Morwell trial was compromised, given members of the jury stayed at the same hotel as police and prosecutors. Appeal judges Justices Stephen McLeish, Lesley Taylor and Peter Kidd handed down their verdict last Friday. Patterson was told her offending was “extraordinarily cold and calculated”. “And stands to be denounced in the strongest terms,” Their Honours said. “It is inappropriate to fix a non-parole period. “The applicant’s intent to murder all four victims was sustained for nearly three weeks from when she invited them to lunch, through to preparing and serving the poisoned meal and then throughout the protracted suffering and ultimate deaths that resulted.” The judges not only dismissed Patterson’s appeal, but increased her sentence. Patterson did not appear at the Court of Appeal in person. Instead, she watched via video link, and appeared to stare blankly when the decision was made. She is being held in the maximum security wing of the Dame Phyllis Frost women’s prison. In September, it was revealed Patterson had been approved to take weight-loss drug Ozempic at taxpayers’ expense while serving time behind bars. The prosecution had also submitted an appeal against the original sentence carrying parole last August. The DPP wanted no chance of parole, and said that the offending was the “worst category” of murders. Outside court, it was reported that Patterson’s estranged husband Simon grinned broadly. Back in Morwell, the news passed by with barely a mention when it broke just after 10am. Express editor Liam Durkin told ABC Victoria Statewide Drive that most, if not all, locals were over the attention the trial gave Morwell. “I think it’s fair to say everyone has well and truly moved on,” he said. “It’s not something people talk about in their everyday life.” The editor did not travel to Melbourne for the appeal. “There was a couple of local true crime buffs that did head down, but for the sake of a 15 minute hearing to make the trip down to Melbourne for that probably wasn’t really justified,” he told ABC presenter Jane Nield. “A lot of interest in the Patterson case, whilst it will always be there, but certainly nowhere near the levels that it was for those crazy few months last year. “It’s going to remain in the psyche of the Latrobe Valley for a long, long time, there’s no doubt. “I think most of the book has closed, but until we’ve got an absolute final decision from the High Court, the story is still developing.” Patterson’s last chance will be to appeal to the High Court. She has until November 27 to do so. Patterson now takes an infamous place alongside some of Australia’s worst criminals to have served or be serving life without parole, including Ivan Malat and Martin Bryant. Bryant’s actions led then Prime Minister John Howard to overhaul the country’s gun laws in the wake of the Port Arthur Massacre. Mr Howard wore a bulletproof vest while addressing a pro-gun crowd at Sale Oval shortly after the tragedy.  

latrobevalleyexpress.com.au

Fetishists for Bombing: Resuming the Attacks on Iran

Tenured insanity is set to return after the midterm elections in the United States. In October, US President Donald Trump seemed to ice the ongoing conflict against Iran with the dismissive promise that it would [...] The post Fetishists for Bombing: Resuming the Attacks on Iran appeared first on The Australian Independent Media Network.

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From the archives with Katrina Brandon

50 years ago The Express, November 3, 1976 Forest is in danger   ABOUT 80 people attended a meeting in Morwell on Thursday night to discuss the effects of wood pulping and other forestry practices on native flora and fauna. Three guest speakers addressed the meeting held at the Ronald Reserve hall, following the opening of an “ecology art exhibition” that afternoon in the gardens opposite the Morwell Post Office. Mr Ian Penna, project officer for the Conservation Council of Victoria, spoke about projected demands for wood for pulping. He pointed out that because Acts of Parliament set out minimum annual supply (MAS) guaranteed by the Forestry Commission and prescribe penalties for companies not taking up 80 per cent of MAS, the provision of logs for pulping is likely to be first priority in forestry. Mr Penna said the danger was that current projects for pulping needs will require more wood than is now available. ______________________________________________________ 30 years ago The Express, November 4 , 1996 Hopeful outlook for regional Australia   DURING a visit to Gippsland last Friday, Federal Primary Industries and Energy Minister John Anderson claimed regional Australia “had a lot to be hopeful about in the budget”. Mr Anderson was in the region to address a Liberal Party dinner in Traralgon and first inspected the logging supply company site of IJ Crawford and Sons in Morwell. Later at the dinner function, attended by around 110 people, Mr Anderson said interest rates had already fallen in response to this year’s federal budget. “This will deliver better opportunities for farmers, small business and of course, jobs for the unemployed,” he added. Liberal MHR for McMillan Russel Broadbent praised his colleague for his role in producing a forest industry outcome which “delivered greater certainty and sense”. “It will preserve an industry that is so important to local families, while maintaining the government’s commitment to the National Forest Policy Statement,” he added. ______________________________________________________ 10 years ago The Express, November 3, 2016 Batten down the hatches   VICTORIA has entered the storm season and RACV is warning householders to be vigilant to reduce the risk of damage around the home. While other areas in Gippsland experienced a less damaging storm season in 2015-16, storm-related insurance claims in Baw Baw Shire jumped about 29 per cent, new RACV data reveals. RACV Insurance paid more than $335,000 for damage and loss in Baw Baw, almost 39 per cent more than the previous financial year. Overall, Gippsland storm-related damage claims dropped from 484 to 358, with the largest fall in Wellington, which recorded 80 claims, down from 125 the previous year. South Gippsland registered the highest average cost of claims in the region for the second successive year. South Gippsland’s average claim was $5480, followed by $4605 in Wellington and $3846 for Bass Coast. During the danger period, there are several basic actions residents can take to reduce the risk of storm or flood damage. These include securing loose objects around the property, keep gutters, downpipes and drains clear and checking your roof for any holes or loose tiles that need repair or replacement.  

latrobevalleyexpress.com.au

How parts of the media shape regional Australia’s hostility to renewable energy

By Klaus Groebner and Daniel Angus Across regional Australia, renewable energy developments have become sites of increasingly contentious political debate. While concerns about land use, environmental impacts and community consultation are often legitimate, opposition to [...] The post How parts of the media shape regional Australia’s hostility to renewable energy appeared first on The Australian Independent Media Network.

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Do the Israeli elections matter? With Antony Loewenstein

We dive into the Israeli election results and Jillian Segal’s attack on progressive Australia in the latest Deepthink episode

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Mon 2 Nov 2026 - Albanese’s Labor is looking in the wrong direction

Your trusted guide to the top independent news and views of the day...

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Make It So: There Are More of You Than You Think. A Call to all Men Who Reject Sexism.

3 in 4 Australian men reject the old rules of manhood. In honour of Sir Patrick Stewart, here’s how we help them say so out loud, and turn their voices into positive and enduring change for everyone.

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Make Fuel Tax Fair

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America is respected again. Apparently, nobody told the rest of the world.

Donald Trump repeatedly assures whoever is listening that America is once again respected around the world. Really? Perhaps somebody should tell the rest of the world. We seem to have missed the memo. Because if [...] The post America is respected again. Apparently, nobody told the rest of the world. appeared first on The Australian Independent Media Network.

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EV Field Guide: What every EV driver should know before a long roadtrip

EV Field Guide cuts through the complexity of electric vehicles, helping you understand how charging works, how to save time and money on the road, and the practical realities of EV ownership.

thepoint.com.au

Sarah Henderson's ABC Hamas claim

Sarah Henderson accused the ABC of hiring a Hamas journalist, then backed down from the claim in The Australian. She did not respond to questions from Michael West Media or Lamestream. Full episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPI3vgVa1Zg Read the story: https://michaelwest.com.au/which-companies-on-the-atos-list-paid-no-tax-this-year-the-west-report/ #auspol #MichaelWestMedia #ABC #Hamas

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Everyone's Watching the Gun Buyback. They're Missing the Real Change

The NSW gun buyback started today. You're going to see a lot of photos of guns being handed in. That's not the change I'm worried about... I've dealt with around 50 firearms matters in the past six months. Again and again it's people losing their licence over something that happened five or ten years ago. And since the law changed, there's no independent tribunal to look at whether that decision was right. NCAT review is gone. If you want the decision looked at again, it goes back to police. Before I was a defence lawyer I was a police officer, then a police prosecutor. So I've seen this from a few angles. In this one I walk you through: - why you can lose a firearms licence without being charged with anything - how old history, including mental health events, is being weighed right now - suspension vs revocation vs cancellation (they're very different) - mandatory disqualifications, discretion, and what "public interest" actually means here - why removing the umpire matters, even if the decision turns out to be right Even if you'll never own a gun, you should care how the government decides someone can't hold a licence anymore, and who checks the decision when it's wrong. Roy Butler MP has introduced a bill to bring NCAT review back: https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/parliamentary-business/bills/bill-details?billId=18957 Got a legal question? Subscribe. Every week I answer the questions you send in, for free. 📖 My book, Objection: objectionbook.com.au This video is general information about NSW law, not legal advice. If you've been sent a notice about your licence, get advice on your own situation, because time limits may apply. #GunLaws #nsw #Firearms #GunBuyback #australianlaw

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Longform writing – whistling in the wind

I might see this day before I die, the day when longform writing and longform reading come back into fashion. They are sure not here right now. I found myself reading, by accident, a translation [...] The post Longform writing – whistling in the wind appeared first on The Australian Independent Media Network.

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