Eight partners, including former CEO, sacked from PwC after tax leak scandal

The former chief executive of PwC Australia is among eight partners sacked from the international consultancy firm for their part in a tax leak scandal.

The former chief executive of consultancy firm PwC is among eight partners sacked for having direct involvement in the leaking, or covering up, of confidential Treasury information.

Former head of international tax Peter Collins – and the firm he once worked for – came under fire last month when it publicly emerged he had distributed confidential information to clients and other partners about incoming tax laws a decade ago.

Treasury referred the matter to the Australian Federal Police, while the firm began their own independent investigation.

Announcing its conclusions on Monday, a statement from PwC revealed eight partners “have exited, or are in the process of being removed from the partnership”.

It comes as the Greens refer the embattled consultancy to the newly operational National Anti Corruption Commission.

Eight partners have been sacked from PwC for their role in a tax leak Picture: NCA NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

Former chief executive Tom Seymour – who announced he would step down from the top job after the scandal was made public – will leave the firm earlier than anticipated.

In a statement, the firm said former partners Peter Konidaris and Eddy Moussa have exited the partnership because their actions “failed to meet their professional responsibilities”.

The firm said Richard Gregg had been given notice of PwC’s findings against him and a process had started to remove him from the partnership.

Pete Calleja and Sean Gregory have exited the partnership “as a result of their failure to adequately exercise their expected leadership or governance responsibilities to prevent these actions or to address the deficiencies in culture at the firm or hold others accountable for their behaviours”.

PwC said for similar reasons Peter van Dongen, Wayne Plummer and Mr Seymour had been given notice of the findings against them and were in the process of being stripped of their partnership.

Acting chief executive Kristin Stubbins said accountability was “crucial” to improving the firm’s culture.

“Based on our investigation to date, it is clear that the conduct of a number of partners fell short of what was expected for them. They are now being held accountable for their misconduct,” she said.

“While we cannot change the past, we can control our actions today and in the future. Moving forward, the PwC Australia management team will continue to take all appropriate steps to improve the firm’s culture and standards.”

Greens Senator Barbara Pocock has referred the matter to the new federal anti-corruption watchdog. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

On Saturday, Greens senator Barbara Pocock confirmed the new federal corruption watchdog would also be tasked with examining the role of the firm in the tax leak.

She said government agencies including the Australian Taxation Office, the Tax Practitioners Board and the Australian Federal Police all had questions to answer.

“The PwC tax leaks scandal has been airing in public for the past five months and so far we know too little about who was at fault, who benefited and what consequences there will be,” she said in a statement on the weekend.

“This is a matter that goes right to the heart of integrity in government and frankly there are so many unanswered questions … While we welcome the AFP investigation to prosecute appropriate criminal charges, there are wider issues that need to be addressed to ensure that our systems of government are not open to corruption.

“These issues can only be properly examined by an independent body with the authority to compel witnesses.”

Editor’s Note: This article previously stated that Michael Bersten had been stood down from PwC in connection with the PwC tax leaks scandal. We have been informed that is not correct; Mr Bersten voluntarily retired from PwC in 2018 consistent with a long-standing intention to do so in order to pursue a career as a barrister. Mr Bersten vehemently denies any wrongdoing or deliberate use of confidential information.