Micky Ahuja catapulted his company MA Services from nothing to the big time to become the security provider of choice to the federal government retail giants like Coles and Bunnings, and a major sponsor of AFL clubs.

But his empire was a house of cards.

Today Nick McKenzie on one of the more spectacular and disturbing corporate unravellings in recent memory. 

Micky Ahuja catapulted his company MA Services from nothing to the big time to become the security provider of choice to the federal government retail giants like Coles and Bunnings, and a major sponsor of AFL clubs. But his empire was a house of cards.
Today Nick McKenzie on one of the more spectacular and disturbing corporate unravellings in recent memory.&nbsp;

The Morning Edition (formerly Please Explain) brings you the story behind the story with the best journalists in Australia. Join host Samantha Selinger-Morris from the newsrooms of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, weekdays from 5am.

The Morning Edition (formerly Please Explain) brings you the story behind the story with the best journalists in Australia. Join host Samantha Selinger-Morris from the newsrooms of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, weekdays from 5am.

The Morning Edition

New episodes from ongoing Metro podcast series. 

New episodes from ongoing Metro podcast series.&nbsp;

New episodes

The Morning Edition brings you the story behind the story with the best journalists in Australia. Join host Samantha Selinger-Morris from the newsrooms of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, weekdays from 5am.

The Morning Edition brings you the story behind the story with the best journalists in Australia. Join host Samantha Selinger-Morris from the newsrooms of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, weekdays from 5am.

Mickey the 'monster': Sinister allegations behind spectacular corporate unravelling

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/88b564ea-a9a6-4751-910a-a5d800019396/clips/be08dc90-0b17-4a9d-aaea-b407005067e5/transcript

When the National Disability Insurance Scheme was created in 2013, it was proof that a rich society could find the money to help people living with a disability. This was social democracy at work.

Twelve years on, it has turned into a $62 billion behemoth, on track to cost more than the age pension.

The Albanese government last week admitted the scheme was at risk of collapse. It announced a root-and-branch overhaul to remove 300,000 Australians from the scheme in the space of a few years.

The man leading the contentious reform agenda is Health Minister Mark Butler.

The 55-year-old South Australian has emerged as one of Labor’s most energetic ministers, taking on big tasks in aged care, tobacco control and disability support.

He’s also been asked if he might be the next Labor leader after Anthony Albanese.

He joins this bonus episode of Inside Politics with chief political correspondent Paul Sakkal.

 

Background reading
Natassia Chrysanthos and Paul Sakkal – New NDIS eligibility tool will be ‘relatively blind’ to diagnoses.
Natassia Chrysanthos – ‘Am I disabled enough?’ The question autistic participants are asking after NDIS overhaul.

 

When the National Disability Insurance Scheme was created in 2013, it was proof that a rich society could find the money to help people living with a disability. This was social democracy at work.
Twelve years on, it has turned into a $62 billion behemoth, on track to cost more than the age pension.
The Albanese government last week admitted the scheme was at risk of collapse. It announced a root-and-branch overhaul to remove 300,000 Australians from the scheme in the space of a few years.
The man leading the contentious reform agenda is Health Minister Mark Butler.
The 55-year-old South Australian has emerged as one of Labor&rsquo;s most energetic ministers, taking on big tasks in aged care, tobacco control and disability support.
He&rsquo;s also been asked if he might be the next Labor leader after Anthony Albanese.
He joins this bonus episode of Inside Politics with chief political correspondent Paul Sakkal.
&nbsp;
Background reading
<ul>
<li>Natassia Chrysanthos and Paul Sakkal &ndash;<a href="https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/new-ndis-eligibility-tool-will-be-relatively-blind-to-diagnoses-butler-20260428-p5zrs8.html?utm_source=omny&amp;utm_medium=podcast_notes&amp;utm_campaign=inside_politics&amp;utm_content=&amp;utm_term=newsroom"> New NDIS eligibility tool will be &lsquo;relatively blind&rsquo; to diagnoses.</a></li>
<li>Natassia Chrysanthos &ndash; <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/am-i-disabled-enough-the-question-autistic-participants-are-asking-after-labor-s-ndis-overhaul-20260423-p5zqgv.html?utm_source=omny&amp;utm_medium=podcast_notes&amp;utm_campaign=inside_politics&amp;utm_content=&amp;utm_term=newsroom">&lsquo;Am I disabled enough?&rsquo; The question autistic participants are asking after NDIS overhaul.</a></li>
</ul>
&nbsp;

Mark Butler on the NDIS, private health and vaccine hesitancy 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/88b564ea-a9a6-4751-910a-a5d800019396/clips/4d2e6d91-4df4-4c73-8817-b43b00b9ff11/transcript

Regular listeners will know Peter Hartcher – he’s our international and political editor and a weekly voice on The Morning Edition, helping us dissect and process the extraordinary times that we’re living in.

Every week we get a lot of comments from our listeners, so we put a call out for the burning questions you’ve wanted to ask Hartcher. Today we've collated a selection of them for this special episode.

 

Background reading
Peter Hartcher's latest column – Trump says he’s won the war. No one has told the Iranians.

Regular listeners will know Peter Hartcher &ndash; he&rsquo;s our international and political editor and a weekly voice on The Morning Edition, helping us dissect and process the extraordinary times that we&rsquo;re living in.
Every week we get a lot of comments from our listeners, so we put a call out for the burning questions you&rsquo;ve wanted to ask Hartcher. Today we've collated a selection of them for this special episode.
&nbsp;
Background reading
<ul>
<li>Peter Hartcher's latest column &ndash; <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/trump-says-he-s-won-the-war-no-one-has-told-the-iranians-20260427-p5zr90.html?utm_source=omny&amp;utm_medium=podcast_notes&amp;utm_campaign=the_morning_edition&amp;utm_content=&amp;utm_term=newsroom">Trump says he&rsquo;s won the war. No one has told the Iranians.</a> </li>
</ul>

Peter Hartcher answers your questions about Iran, Trump and the state of the world

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/88b564ea-a9a6-4751-910a-a5d800019396/clips/6ab9a837-a933-4160-bfa4-b43b005ef17e/transcript

It's shaping up to be a story of profound betrayal – if the allegations are proven in court.

On the one hand is one of Australia's most influential and richest philanthropists, a woman who doesn't use email or indeed a computer. 

On the other is her personal secretary, whom she entrusted with access to her intimate personal and financial details.

Today, chief investigative reporter Kate McClymont on the case of Judith Neilson, Annalouise Spence and the alleged $1.6 million sequin-studded fraud.

Background reading
Kate McClymont's story – 'Profound betrayal’: The billionaire and her secretary’s $1.5m sequin-studded fraud.
And ‘Overwhelming case’: Billionaire’s ex-secretary refused bail over alleged $1.6m fraud.

It's shaping up to be a story of profound betrayal &ndash; if the allegations are proven in court.
On the one hand is one of Australia's most influential and richest philanthropists, a woman who doesn't use email or indeed a computer.&nbsp;
On the other is her personal secretary, whom she entrusted with access to her intimate personal and financial details.
Today, chief investigative reporter Kate McClymont on the case of Judith Neilson, Annalouise Spence and the alleged $1.6 million sequin-studded fraud. Background reading
<ul>
<li>Kate McClymont's story &ndash; '<a href="https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/profound-betrayal-the-billionaire-and-her-secretary-s-1-5m-sequin-studded-fraud-20260420-p5zpg0.html?utm_source=omny&amp;utm_medium=podcast_notes&amp;utm_campaign=the_morning_edition&amp;utm_content=&amp;utm_term=newsroom">Profound betrayal&rsquo;: The billionaire and her secretary&rsquo;s $1.5m sequin-studded fraud.</a></li>
<li>And <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/national/overwhelming-case-billionaire-s-ex-secretary-refused-bail-over-alleged-1-6m-fraud-20260423-p5zqkd.html?utm_source=omny&amp;utm_medium=podcast_notes&amp;utm_campaign=the_morning_edition&amp;utm_content=&amp;utm_term=newsroom">&lsquo;Overwhelming case&rsquo;: Billionaire&rsquo;s ex-secretary refused bail over alleged $1.6m fraud.</a></li>
</ul>

The Australian philanthropist and the alleged $1.6 million sequin-studded fraud 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/88b564ea-a9a6-4751-910a-a5d800019396/clips/f7a4f756-5a6c-45a2-8d26-b43a003a576b/transcript

Mickey the 'monster': Sinister allegations behind spectacular corporate unravelling

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