Book Month

A new biography of Australian billionaire James Packer gives a fascinating insight into Packer's recent "breakdown" with the author Damon Kitney of The Australian newspaper being given exclusive access to James:

"I was like Icarus," the billionaire tells his biographer of the heady days of 2016 when he broke up with pop star Mariah Carey, abandoned living in Hollywood and Israel, left the global casino stage, and divided the family fortune in a bitter separation from his sister.
With these words, Packer delves for the first time into the story behind his stunning public revelation in mid-March 2018 of his battle with mental health issues, which forced him to resign from the board of the Crown casino company he owns and loves.

Packer says he was "saved" partly by close friend Hollywood actor Warren Beatty who Packer often stayed with in LA and who he calls "father" (pictured above). 
 'The Price of Fortune' will be available on 22nd of this month.

Gina parties in New York

Gina Rinehart & Audrey Gruss

Whisper's New York spy disguised as an Upper East Side socialite has spotted Australia's richest person and the world's richest woman Gina Rinehart at several parties around town as our exclusive snaps show.
On the weekend Gina attended a White Tea garden party at the ritzy Southampton home, Fairwind thrown by philanthropist Audrey Gruss. That was to launch four new products in Gruss' Hope Fragrance where 100% of profits go to the Hope for Depression Research Foundation, a charity started by Gruss in honour of her mother Hope who suffered from depression most of her life. The guest list comprised of many of the US names from the Social Register: Sharon Bush, Kathy Hilton and Luce Churchill. Yes, they are all related to famed gents with the same moniker.

Michael Milken * David Koch

 A few days later Rinehart also attended a charity fundraiser for the Prostrate Cancer Foundation hosted by Michael Milken once jailed for two years and fined $600M for selling 'junk bonds'.  Milken has successfully re-invented himself as a charity fundraiser. That party was also attended by David Koch of the influential Koch brothers, As far as wealth goes, Koch is worth an estimated $47B, Gina Rinehart currently is worth around $12B personally while Milken gets by with just a lazy $1B. Rinehart has a New York penthouse which sensibly has a drive-in elevator for one's limousine which travels to your apartment so your feet never need touch the pavement. How the other half live!

Matthew Newton answer his critics :"I have been in excellent health for the last three years"

Following our report last week that actor Matthew Newton had slammed the tabloid magazine Woman's Day over recent health claims, the actor has now given an exclusive interview to the Australian MailOnline and scotched rumours about his health and expressed how happy he is that sister Lauren is expecting her fourth child. The Newtons are a close knit show biz family and although the talented Matthew has been through some rocky times due to illness, it's pleasing news that his career appears to be thriving in the USA. You can read the Mail's report here.
# One of the oddest aspects of this mini controversy was a columnist on an Australian newspaper who had hoped that Newton would  "provide evidence to back up  his claims the Woman's Day article was "full of lies"". Call Whispers old fashioned (we are) but the usual expectation is that if a claim is made about a person, the claimant is the one expected to "provide evidence" etc. Still, we live in interesting times where many aspects of life have become topsy turvy.

'Charlotte's Law'

• Petitioning The Australian Government

Charlotte's Law - Tougher Cyber Bullying Legislation

http://www.change.org/en-AU/petitions/the-australian-government-charlotte-s-law-tougher-cyber-bullying-legislation

Ian Thorpe on the BBC

Swimmer Ian Thorpe talks candidly about his long battle with depression, the issue of drugs in sport, and the treatment of Indigenous Australians in this radio interview with BBC radio.

 Listen by clicking the link here.