‘Gravely concerning’: Greens disappointed as PwC scandal clouds government transparency

Following its tax leaks scandal, PwC was banned from bidding for government work which was recently extended past the original 1 July date, yet the Greens are concerned the big four firm has been granted permission again.

When the accounting giant was banned from bidding, the Department of Finance extended this ban for an additional two weeks while it deliberated whether to allow the firm to resume its bidding.

Since the ban extension, Pocock said she was concerned PwC had been given the green light following reports that the Department of Finance had made a decision, yet refused to share what it was.

Pocock said the lack of transparency was an insult to the Senate, the members of parliament involved in the federal inquiries and the Australian community.

“For a government that came to office in 2022 after campaigning on a platform of greater transparency, this move really takes the cake. They’ve made a decision, but they won’t tell us what it is,” she said.

“This is gravely concerning and it worries me that they may have given a green light to a firm that has clearly betrayed the trust of the Australian people and remains unaccountable for actions that could have cost us millions in multinational tax revenue.”

“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 disdain that they refuse to handover documents or give any details about who was involved.”

When the Department of Finance first announced the two weeks ban extension on 1 July, the Greens said PwC should not be allowed to tender for government contracts until all outstanding investigations into the tax leaks scandal were resolved and acted upon.

On July 1, Pocock said if PwC was to be given the green light it would make their crimes of sharing confidential information from the Tax Office with multinational clients looking to avoid tax “OK”.

“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.”

Now that the two week ban has ended with no public statement on the conclusion, Pocock noted the Finance Department should stand by a “firm no” without any reservation towards the firm and its betrayal to the nation.

“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 had deferred the announcement is deeply worrying.”

“While investigations are continuing at the AFP, the Tax Practitioners Board and the NACC, it remains to be seen whether anyone inside PwC is liable to face criminal charges. This situation should result in a firm no from the Finance Department without any reservation.”

“I call on the finance minister to come clean and make the decision public.”