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

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