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 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.

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

Within hours of the shooting, right outside where US President Donald Trump was dining at the Hilton Hotel in Washington, the American president was venting his anger.

Not, notably, about the gunman firing shots in the lobby of the hotel. But at a journalist who read out what the suspected shooter allegedly thinks about Trump. 

Today Bruce Wolpe, a senior fellow at the United States Studies Centre, on why this shooting differs - in such a crucial and dangerous way - from the two attempts on Trump's life during the 2024 election campaign, and the reckoning that is now spreading throughout Washington as a result.

 

Further reading:
Inside the pandemonium at the Washington Hilton 
‘Friendly Federal Assassin’: Alleged shooter’s manifesto says he was targeting Trump officials

 

And just a note, after recording this episode, Cole Tomas Allen, was charged - on Tuesday, Australian time - with an attempted assassination of Donald Trump. According to a note Allan reportedly sent family members minutes before the attack, he believed that it was his duty to target Trump administration officials. Jeanine Pirro, the top federal prosecutor in Washington, has said that additional charges would be brought against him.

Within hours of the shooting, right outside where US President Donald Trump was dining at the Hilton Hotel in Washington, the American president was venting his anger.
Not, notably, about the gunman firing shots in the lobby of the hotel. But at a journalist who read out what the suspected shooter allegedly thinks about Trump.&nbsp;
Today Bruce Wolpe, a senior fellow at the United States Studies Centre, on why this shooting differs - in such a crucial and dangerous way - from the two attempts on Trump's life during the 2024 election campaign, and the reckoning that is now spreading throughout Washington as a result.
&nbsp;
Further reading:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/inside-the-pandemonium-at-the-washington-hilton-20260427-p5zra6.html">Inside the pandemonium at the Washington Hilton </a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/friendly-federal-assassin-alleged-shooter-s-manifesto-says-he-was-targeting-trump-officials-20260427-p5zr7t.html">&lsquo;Friendly Federal Assassin&rsquo;: Alleged shooter&rsquo;s manifesto says he was targeting Trump officials</a></li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
And just a note, after recording this episode, Cole Tomas Allen, was charged - on Tuesday, Australian time - with an attempted assassination of Donald Trump. According to a note Allan reportedly sent family members minutes before the attack, he believed that it was his duty to target Trump administration officials. Jeanine Pirro, the top federal prosecutor in Washington, has said that additional charges would be brought against him.

Trump and the Washington attack: This shooting is different

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/88b564ea-a9a6-4751-910a-a5d800019396/clips/e945b5bf-0419-4aa3-9b90-b4390078ee58/transcript

Prohibition-era gangs, mafia dons, the notorious Melbourne’s gangland wars and the rise of flashy outlaw motorcycle gangs.

Crime in Australia has had a few iterations, and has mirrored crime occurring in the rest of the world.

But now we’re in a new era.

Today investigative reporter Marta Pascual Juanola on how organised crime has changed and the uniquely Australian trend that has emerged.

Read Marta's story on organised crime here. 

Prohibition-era gangs, mafia dons, the notorious Melbourne&rsquo;s gangland wars and the rise of flashy outlaw motorcycle gangs. Crime in Australia has had a few iterations, and has mirrored crime occurring in the rest of the world. But now we&rsquo;re in a new era. Today investigative reporter Marta Pascual Juanola on how organised crime has changed and the uniquely Australian trend that has emerged. Read Marta's story on organised crime <a href="https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/younger-more-violent-and-elusive-a-picture-of-australia-s-new-organised-criminals-20260318-p5pd4u.html?utm_source=omny&amp;utm_medium=podcast_notes&amp;utm_campaign=the_morning_edition&amp;utm_content=&amp;utm_term=newsroom">here.&nbsp;</a>

Airtasker of the underworld, offshore gangs and the uniquely Australian crime

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/88b564ea-a9a6-4751-910a-a5d800019396/clips/27ce2b10-a9cf-4f20-bd16-b4360027f7d0/transcript

Today, we are talking about one of the federal budget’s trickiest customers - the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

Labor was once like a proud parent of the NDIS, but now even the minister in charge, Mark Butler, is describing the scheme as a honeypot for organised crime.

Also this week, an inquiry about taxing offshore gas exports went kind of viral due to a David Pocock question about beer and an appearance from a podcaster called Punters Politics.

Joining host Jacqueline Maley is chief political correspondent Paul Sakkal and federal political correspondent Natassia Chrysanthos.


Background reading
Natassia Chrysanthos’ latest story on the NDIS 
All of The Age and Sydney Morning Herald’s political news and analysis.

Today, we are talking about one of the federal budget&rsquo;s trickiest customers - the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
Labor was once like a proud parent of the NDIS, but now even the minister in charge, Mark Butler, is describing the scheme as a honeypot for organised crime.
Also this week, an inquiry about taxing offshore gas exports went kind of viral due to a David Pocock question about beer and an appearance from a podcaster called Punters Politics.
Joining host Jacqueline Maley is chief political correspondent Paul Sakkal and federal political correspondent Natassia Chrysanthos.
 Background reading
<ul>
<li>Natassia Chrysanthos&rsquo; <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/labor-s-sweeping-ndis-overhaul-to-boot-160-000-from-program-20260422-p5zq4s.html?utm_source=omny&amp;utm_medium=podcast_notes&amp;utm_campaign=inside_politics&amp;utm_content=&amp;utm_term=newsroom">latest story on the NDIS </a></li>
<li>All of The Age and Sydney Morning Herald&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.theage.com.au/politics?utm_source=omny&amp;utm_medium=podcast_notes&amp;utm_campaign=inside_politics&amp;utm_content=&amp;utm_term=newsroom">political news and analysis.</a></li>
</ul>

Labor’s baby a ‘honeypot of fraud’ and the gas tax’s viral moment

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/88b564ea-a9a6-4751-910a-a5d800019396/clips/8ebc8ec6-6fa5-4c67-890b-b43500555224/transcript

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

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