Comedian Dave Hughes has mocked convicted triple murderer Erin Patterson’s taxpayer-funded Ozempic treatment, questioning why the prisoner needs weight-loss medication while being held in near-continuous isolation.
In a social media post, Hughes said Patterson was not faced with the temptations of an all-you-can-eat holiday buffet.
“She’s in solitary confinement, she’s not trying to keep away from the buffet on a cruise,” he 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.”
Why Erin Patterson is receiving Ozempic in prison
Victoria’s Department of Corrections has said the drug was authorised on clinical grounds, rather than as a cosmetic treatment. Officials said it was being used to help prevent type 2 diabetes and other complications linked to rapid weight gain caused by Patterson’s extreme confinement.
Ozempic is approved in Australia for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and for reducing the risk of associated kidney and heart problems. It is also widely used off-label as a weight-loss drug.
Patterson is held at the Dame Phyllis Frost Centre and spends between 22 and 23 hours a day in her cell. Authorities have said the restrictions are necessary because of the risk posed to her from other prisoners following the worldwide publicity surrounding her case.
She was sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of murdering Don and Gail Patterson and Heather Wilkinson with death cap mushrooms served in beef Wellington. She was also convicted of attempting to murder Heather’s husband, Ian Wilkinson.
A judge imposed a 33-year non-parole period, meaning Patterson could become eligible to apply for release in 2056. Prosecutors are challenging that decision, arguing the offending was among the worst category of crimes and that she should never be released.
Hughes is not the only critic of the treatment. Brad Batten, the Victorian Opposition’s spokesperson for police and corrections, said excessive weight gain among prisoners should prompt questions about prison diets and exercise facilities.
“Maybe we should be using prescriptions for more exercise, or a government should be reviewing what they are feeding prisoners here in Victoria,” he said.
The comedian has increasingly used social media to comment on tax and public spending, particularly the Labor Party’s policies on negative gearing and capital gains tax. His political commentary has also prompted jokes from fellow comedians about whether his property interests influence his views, an implication Hughes has denied.
