Headlines: Court hears new details in mushroom murder trial

Today's headlines include:

The mushroom murder trial of Erin Patterson is underway in a Victorian court, with the prosecution making its opening statements today.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has told The Daily Aus that all Australians are responsible for the safety of young people online. 

U.S. President Donald Trump has commemorated 100 days in office with a rally in the state of Michigan. 

And today's good news: Guide Dogs NSW/ACT is celebrating International Guide Dog Day with the launch of a new initiative aimed at making hospitality venues more accessible. 

Hosts: Emma Gillespie and Lucy Tassell
Producer: Emma Gillespie

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:05):
From the Daily Os.

Speaker 2 (00:06):
I'm Lucy Tassel, I'm Emma Gillespie.

Speaker 1 (00:08):
It's Wednesday, the thirtieth of April. Here's what's making headlines
this evening.

Speaker 2 (00:14):
The mushroom murder trial of Aaron Patterson is underway in
a Victorian court, with the prosecution and defense both making
opening statements today. Lee prosecutor doctor Nanette Rodgers sc told
the jury Patterson is alleged to have served her four guests,
Patterson's estranged husband's family members, individual beef Wellington's on gray plates,

(00:35):
while serving herself one on a smaller orange plate. Doctor
Rogers said the guests, three of whom died, became severely
ill within twelve hours of the meal and were later
diagnosed with death cap mushroom poisoning. The prosecution also gave
evidence that Patterson attended a local hospital the next day,
but discharged herself despite doctor's orders. Defense lawyer Colin Mandy

(00:59):
SCR argued Patterson did not know the mushrooms were poisonous
and didn't intend to kill her guests, but admitted she
did forage the mushrooms. Mandy also said Patterson admitted to
throwing away a dehydrator used for the mushrooms. The fifty
year old has pleaded not guilty to murder and attempted murder.

Speaker 1 (01:22):
Opposition leader Peter Dutton has told the Daily Ods that
all Australians are responsible for the safety of young people online.
Here's TDA political journalist Harry Seculich speaking to Dutton on
the campaign trail.

Speaker 3 (01:33):
Today on mental health. Mister Dutton, in your view, can
we reverse the scourge of mental ill health in young men?
And do you think that masculinity social media influencers should
be coming under closest scrutiny for some of the messages
that they're spreading to young men.

Speaker 4 (01:48):
There is certainly an influence online. There's certainly an influence
through gaming and the violence and the sexualized nature of
some of that content. Algorithms and big media companies have
a lot to answer for in relation to this as well,
and I've spent a big part of my career fighting
back against Facebook and others for the content that they
allow kids to consume online, both young boys and young girls,

(02:11):
the sharing of images. I think everybody has a responsibility
to your parents. Certainly do. There's a lot that happens
online that none of us would accept our kids being
exposed to in the real world at school or down
a local park or our own houses. So why would
we allow this zoo to operate online. We have to
make sure that there is proper guidelines and people should

(02:31):
have responsibility, particularly those with influence, and it's a huge issue.

Speaker 2 (02:38):
US President Donald Trump has commemorated one hundred days in
office with a rally in Michigan. The state has been
led by Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer since twenty nineteen, but
a majority of voters there supported Trump, a Republican, at
the twenty twenty four election. Trump met with Whitmer ahead
of his rally to announce more fighter jets for the
state's military base. The president complimented Whitmer for doing a

(03:02):
quote very good job, which he said he's not supposed
to do. At the rally, Trump touted his actions on
immigration in his first one hundred days, including numerous deportations
of people who had migrated to the US to a
maximum security prison in El Salvador. Trump showed attendees a
minutes long video of conditions inside the prison, to cheers

(03:24):
from the crowd. The president also praised his own record
on economic issues, saying he had quote ended inflation, but
in a TV interview shown after the rally, said Americans
had to be prepared for a transition period as his
tariffs come into effect.

Speaker 1 (03:42):
And today's good news. Guide Dogs New South Wales Act
is celebrating International Guide Dogs Day with the launch of
a new initiative aimed at making hospitality venues more accessible.
The organization said more than half a million Australians with
low vision and blindness a quote regularly being denied entry
to public venues because of their Guide Dog, with cafes

(04:04):
and restaurants the most common venues where refusals take place.
The City of Sydney has announced thirty thousand dollars in
funding for the initiative to go towards educating local hospitality
staff quote on how to support customers with low vision
and blindness. Guide Dog's New South Wales Act spokesperson Sarah
Watts said, this International Guide Dog Day, we want hospitality

(04:27):
venues and public spaces to welcome people with low vision
or blindness, ensuring that accessibility and inclusion are part of
every customer's experience.

Speaker 2 (04:36):
That's the latest from the Daily OHS newsroom for today.
But if you are looking for something else to listen to.
Check out today's deep dive, where we take a closer
look at what the major parties have promised on the
cost of living in the lead up to the federal
election on Saturday.

Speaker 1 (04:52):
We'll be back tomorrow morning with another deep dive into
another election issue. Again, Cut stresses the.

Speaker 2 (04:58):
Now boiler alert.

Speaker 1 (04:59):
Mark your howlendar is this Saturday.

Speaker 2 (05:01):
If you haven't voted already, why what's happening?

Speaker 1 (05:04):
Until then, have a great evening. My name is Lily
Maddon and I'm a proud Arunda Bungelung Cargoton woman from
Gadighl Country. The Daily oz acknowledges that this podcast is
recorded on the lands of the Gadighl people and pays
respect to all Aboriginal and torrest Rate island and nations.

(05:24):
We pay our respects to the first peoples of these countries,
both past and present.