PwC directs nine partners to take leave amid tax advice scandal


Embattled consultancy giant PricewaterhouseCoopers has directed nine partners to take immediate leave and apologised to Australians as the fallout from its tax advice scandal continues.

PwC Australia’s acting chief executive, Kristin Stubbins, issued an open letter on Monday apologising on behalf of the company for the leaking of confidential government tax policy information.

“Specifically, I apologise to the community; to the Australian government for breaching your confidentiality; to our clients for any questions this may have raised about our integrity and trustworthiness,” Ms Stubbins wrote.

“And to the 10,000 hardworking, values-driven PwC Australia partners and staff who have been unfairly impacted.”

Ms Stubbins’ letter comes after Treasury last week referred former PwC executive Peter Collins to the Australian Federal Police.

The AFP has confirmed it has launched a criminal investigation into allegations Mr Collins shared confidential Commonwealth information about changes to tax laws with partners, staff and clients that would be affected by them.

PwC also announced on Monday it has directed nine partners to go on leave, effective immediately, pending the outcome of its ongoing investigation.

These partners include members of the firm’s executive board and governance board.

However, Ms Stubbins is resisting calls to release the names of the PwC employees allegedly involved in the scandal.

“I fully understand and acknowledge the calls for PwC to release the names of the individuals in the emails released by the Senate on May 2,” she said.

“There has been an assumption by some that all those whose names have been redacted must necessarily be involved in wrongdoing. That is incorrect.”

The Greens are pushing to table in parliament a list of 36 PwC partners named in emails related to the leaking of confidential government tax advice.

More to come



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