Ex-PwC boss Tom Seymour hits Bunnings as firm faces crisis over tax leaks

A senator demands PwC reveal who leaked confidential tax information, as the firm moves to contain the scandal and ex-boss Tom Seymour is seen for the first time in public since resigning.

Former PwC CEO Tom Seymour leaves a Bunnings store, days after resigning in the wake of the tax scandal. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen

Pressure is building over PwC’s tax leaks crisis with Labor Senator Deb O’Neill setting a 48-hour deadline to reveal the full list of names involved in the deepening scandal with former boss Tom Seymour seen on Thursday for the first time in public since resigning from the top job.

Mr Seymour, who was spotted at an inner city Bunnings outlet in Brisbane on Thursday, quit as PwC chief executive last week after facing a growing clamour from partners when he confirmed he received emails released by the Tax Practitioners Board revealing the firm’s distribution of details of confidential government deliberations.

A statement issued by PwC Australia board chair Tracey Kennair said the firm had “agreed with Tom that this is in the best interests of the firm and our stakeholders” when Mr Seymour resigned.

Sources said concerns are also growing among high-profile backers of Carlton Football Club, where former PwC chief executive Luke Sayers serves as ­president.

“There is no discussion as to whether Luke’s position remains appropriate,” said Carlton CEO Brian Cook, who sits in on all Carlton board meetings.

“There is a huge focus on pushing ahead to get into the finals,” he said.

Senator Deb O'Neill wants PwC to release a full list of names involved in the tax leak scandal within 48 hours. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

The global tax avoidance scandal that was run out of Australia occurred during the eight years he was running PwC, with the firm’s revenue jumping 86 per cent to $2.6bn.

Senator O’Neill said PwC and its “international crisis management team” should reveal the names of staff linked to the leak of confidential tax advice in the next 24 to 48 hours.

“PwC have a small window of opportunity to halt the cover-up, to do the right and ethical thing and to offer transparency about the tax scandal,” she said.

“It’s past time for PwC to come clean with the Australian people.”

The leaks took place in the period in which Mr Sayers ran the firm.

Assurance leader Kristin Stubbins has been appointed to run the partnership, with a new election planned for later in the year to formalise a replacement for Mr Seymour.

Ms Stubbins sent an email to former PwC partners on Monday apologising for the firm’s leaks.

Carlton president Luke Sayers has been backed by the club’s CEO Brian Cook, as questions have been raised over his links to a tax scandal in PwC. Picture: Ian Currie

Mr Seymour had planned to stay on as a partner in the firm as he negotiated the conditions of his exit with PwC.

Days later PwC announced Mr Seymour would retire from the partnership on September 30 “to enable an orderly transition”.

But internal PwC sources indicated Mr Seymour was playing a limited role in the transition from him to Ms Stubbins.

PwC declined to comment, while referring The Australian to earlier statements made by the firm over his departure. Mr Seymour did not respond to a request for comment.

The consulting firm has appointed corporate veteran Ziggy Switkowski to review its Australian operations, with warnings partners shown to have participated in the tax leak may be evicted from the business.

PwC says it will not release the full findings from Dr Switkowski, but may release a summary.

Senator O’Neill said the firm should not release the names of those involved in the tax leak “in September”.

“The next 24-48 hours for PwC will reveal the company’s culture utterly. They can name the names and establish a new ground floor for the decent people at PwC to think about staying with the firm,” she said.

“Truth telling, complete and total truth telling, is the only way to establish a platform for PwC from where any hope of a reputational recovery might begin.”

At risk are PwC’s lucrative contracts with the Australian government, worth more than $500m.

A review into PwC’s leaks of confidential tax information has been chugging along since January, when the Tax Practitioners Board deregistered the firm’s former senior international taxation partner Peter-John Collins for two years and ordered the firm to put “processes and training in place to ensure conflicts of interest are adequately managed”.

Tom Seymour resigned as PwC’s CEO after revealing he had received emails concerning confidential tax information. Picture: Gary Ramage

Several politicians have called on PwC to face consequences for its actions in sharing confidential tax information and assisting tech companies to minimise the tax paid in Australia.

Greens Senator Barbara Pocock, who pushed for an inquiry into the use of consultants by the government, said it was not the parliament’s job to fix PwC.

“Our job is to investigate what’s happened and hold those that acted inappropriately accountable,” she said.

Senator Pocock said she understood people wanted to know the names of “all the people involved” but said a “full independent inquiry” was needed “so that we know not only the individuals involved but the exact nature of their involvement”.

The inquiry is set to call a number of members of PwC, including Mr Collins and Mr Seymour. Ms Stubbins is understood to not be on the inquiry’s list.

“I think we need to focus on the past events and the costs that they have imposed on the Australian taxpayer, especially in terms of forgone tax revenue,” Senator Pocock said.

“I think we need to hold those who are in power at that time ­accountable.”