2026-06-16
The Greens have referred KPMG to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) for suspected corruption breaches, in the wake of recent multiple scandals, including allegations of misusing confidential client information to get more audit work and mistreating a whistleblower.
The Greens say Finance’s three month freeze on new KPMG contracts barely constitutes a slap on the wrist, let alone a ban. The Government currently holds 297 active contracts worth $653 million. Thirty-one of these totalling $24 million were sealed with government departments, including Finance, after the KPMG scandals were made public in March 2026.
Lines attributable to Greens finance and public service spokesperson Senator Barbara Pocock:
“I’ve referred KPMG to the NACC because the Government is too deep in contracts worth millions to be able to act independently. Labor has rose coloured glasses for the Big 4 even when they behave unethically.
“A three month freeze on new contracts is a slap on the wrist with a stick of limp celery. There is no ban on extensions to the current 297 contracts and we know the Big 4 make their real money in contract extensions - who can forget the BoM’s $96 million website bungle.
"Three months is a holiday, not a punishment. It shows how much power KPMG has over the Government.
“The Government has learned nothing from the PWC scandal. They are giving the second of the Big 4 – KPMG - a second chance when they have shown us that their ethics are for sale.
“If this was an ordinary worker - not a Big 4 partnership raking in billions – using confidential information for gain, cheating on an exam or mistreating a whistleblower - you’d be out on your ear, you’d be dismissed in a flash.
“We are being taken for mugs. KPMG holds an unbelievable $653 million in current contracts with the Commonwealth who allow the Big 4 to operate by their own rules.
“It’s one rule for the big end of town who rub shoulders with the PM and Ministers and write annual cheques to the government, and another for the average worker or Australian tax payers.
“No wonder ordinary Australians are cynical about politics and pulling their vote away from the major parties. This is billionaire political influence over the government.
“When will Labor show a bit of backbone and call these marauding cowboys to account?
“It is time to implement the recommendations of earlier inquiries: subject these massive partnerships to the same rules of tax, transparency and whistleblowing as other large entities through corporations law, separate the functions of consultancy from audit and regulate them properly.”
MEDIA CONTACT:
Charlotta Lomas - 0466 339 862