A Federal Court judge has thrown out a former EY Australia partner’s last-minute attempts to rely on new evidence to keep his name secret as “an abuse of process”, following allegations he promoted tax exploitation schemes before being sacked by the big four firm.

The ex-partner applied for his name and the names of his former firm and clients to be suppressed, on the basis that he would be embarrassed and distressed if he were identified facing allegations of promoting tax exploitation schemes. This application was rejected in the first instance following opposition from The Australian Financial Review and the commissioner in October last year.