2026-06-04
As the fallout over KPMG’s multiple scandals continues, the Greens can reveal that the government holds numerous active audit contracts with the Big 4 firm.
According to the government’s own AusTender portal, the federal government holds dozens of active audit contracts worth $27.4 million with KPMG across various departments:
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The Australian National Audit Office (ANAO), the national auditor, has multiple active audit contracts with KPMG to the value of over $6.428m.
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The CSIRO has a $4.9m internal audit contract with KPMG.
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The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) has multiple active audit contracts with KPMG to the value of $2.1m.
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The Department of Industry, Science and Resources (DISR) has an internal auditing contract worth $1.748m with KPMG.
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The ATO has a contract of $680,000 with KPMG, more than three times the value it originally was quoted.
KPMG has been accused of and admitted to multiple misdemeanours, including sharing confidential client information to rig audit tenders, auditors using AI to cheat on internal exams, breaching audit independence, and “falling short” on the whistleblower’s concerns raised.
The Greens are calling on Labor to ban KPMG from all government contracting work. In 2025, the Australian Greens introduced a bill that would allow the Commonwealth to ban dodgy contractors, such as PwC and KPMG, from entering into government contracts in order to deter unethical conduct. Both Labor and the Coalition refused to support the bill.
Lines attributable to Greens Senator Barbara Pocock, spokesperson for finance and public sector:
“It’s clear that KPMG’s rot spans far and wide in government. Repeated scandals show they are unfit for government work yet Labor has given them millions of dollars in contracts.
“Why would the government hire a firm that’s been accused of sharing confidential client information, to audit its books?
“Labor must immediately ban KPMG and stop these corrupt firms from milking taxpayers of millions of dollars while abusing the system for their gain.
“If the NSW government can call for a ban on KPMG, why can’t the federal government?
“The government must stop allowing the Big 4 to self-regulate. Labor needs to put an end to their special treatment - on tax, public reporting, professional liability and whistleblower protections - and regulate the Big 4 like other large Australian firms.
“The latest KPMG scandals show the Big 4 consultancy firms making a mockery of the parliament yet again. They have made millions of dollars from government work and abused the system. Labor needs to read the room and ban KPMG.
“Their ethics fail every pub test.
“The government needs to stop feigning outrage and expressing ‘deep concern’ at corrupt practices and instead introduce the legislative and structural reforms that enforce transparency and public accountability. Enough is enough."
MEDIA CONTACT:
Charlotta Lomas – 0466 339 862