Grattan on Friday: the PwC scandal should be ripe for the National Anti-Corruption Commission's attention
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Friday, June 2, 2023
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The PwC scandal, involving the use of confidential government information for financial gain, would seem an ideal probe for the NACC to cut its teeth on.
Key Points:
- The PwC scandal, involving the use of confidential government information for financial gain, would seem an ideal probe for the NACC to cut its teeth on.
- At its heart, the PwC affair is simple, a stark example of improper behaviour by a firm taken into the government’s confidence.
- PwC was consulted by the Abbott government on its planned tax avoidance legislation and was privy to confidential information.
- It then used the knowledge obtained in discussions with Treasury to tell clients how to avoid the crackdown.
- In her open “mea culpa” letter this week, Kristin Stubbins, the acting chief executive of PwC Australia, listed three ways the company had “failed”.
- Read more:
PwC scandal shows consultants, like church officials, are best kept out of state affairsNotably, the Coalition has not shown great interest in pursuing the PwC affair.
- Whether or not the NACC takes up the PwC case, what’s happened there reinforces the argument for the anti-corruption body.