EY never probed claims its auditors knew of ‘fake coal’ tests

Liam WalshReporter

Feb 9, 2024 – 7.54pm

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Key Points

EY has rejected allegations about its auditors knowing of fake coal tests.
The allegations were aired again in a Senate inquiry about Peabody coal.
Peabody has also disputed the claims.

EY says it did not investigate the claims its auditors were tipped off about fake coal testing, partly arguing it relied on denials of problems from miner Peabody and testing company ALS.

The claims were raised late on Friday afternoon at a Senate inquiry into the consultancy industry, following a scandal that emerged in 2020 in which ALS admitted a large chunk of tests between 2007 and 2020 had been artificially boosted for unnamed mining customers.

Liam Walsh writes on investigations and companies with The Australian Financial Review. He has won multiple media awards, worked in Japan and is now based in Brisbane.