Greens Refer KPMG to Watchdog as 3-Month Freeze Hits $653 Million in Federal Contracts
Updated
Updated · ABC News · Jun 16
Greens Refer KPMG to Watchdog as 3-Month Freeze Hits $653 Million in Federal Contracts
3 articles · Updated · ABC News · Jun 16
Summary
KPMG was referred to the National Anti-Corruption Commission after the Greens escalated allegations that the firm misused confidential client information and mistreated a whistleblower.
A three-month halt on new Commonwealth bids runs until September 30 while an independent review examines whether KPMG breached supplier standards or billed taxpayers for substandard work.
The freeze leaves untouched KPMG's 297 existing federal contracts worth $653 million, a limit the Greens called a "slap on the wrist" after saying the government awarded $24 million in new work since March.
The allegations stem from claims aired in March that KPMG used Lendlease information to win other audit mandates; Lendlease plans to retender its $10 million-a-year audit contract next year.
More than 30 witnesses, including current and former senior KPMG executives, are due before a parliamentary committee in Canberra on Friday as scrutiny of the Big Four's ethics deepens.