2025-07-01
PwC should not be allow to tender for government contracts until all outstanding investigations into the tax leaks scandal have been resolved and acted upon according to the Greens Finance Spokesperson, Senator Barbara Pocock.
The call comes in response to the Finance Department’s announcement that it will extend the current ban on the Big 4 consulting firm for two weeks while it deliberates on whether to allow the disgraced firm to bid for new contracts.
Lines attributable to Senator Barbara Pocock:
“Finance is taking an extra two weeks to figure out whether it’s still a good idea to not let the firm that shared confidential information from the tax office with multinational clients looking to avoid tax. To me this is the very definition of a no brainer.
“This is the firm that is still under investigation by the Australian Federal Police over the tax leaks scandal. This is the firm that treats Australians and their government with such distain that that they refuse to handover documents or give any details about who was involved.
“PwC’s strategy has long been to wait this crisis out and it looks like the moment they’ve been waiting for has come. This is not a hard decision to make and the fact that the Department of Finance has deferred making it for another two weeks is deeply worrying.
“A green light now for PwC to re-enter the government consulting market sends precisely the wrong signal. It says that it’s OK to rip off Australian taxpayers and face no real consequences.
“Let’s face it, apart from Peter John Collins, who originally leaked the ATO info, no one at PwC has faced any real penalties for their actions. Many of those who exited the firm in that wake of the scandal did so on full benefits or are lining up to take PwC to court.
“While investigations are continuing it remains to be seen whether anyone inside PwC is liable to face criminal charges. This situation should answer the question facing the Finance Department without any reservation.”