PwC hands over names of all staff involved in tax leak scandal

The names of all staff involved in the PwC tax advice scandal have been handed over to the government.

Embattled consultancy giant PwC has handed over the names of all staff who received confidential information on changes to multinational tax avoidance laws.

PwC Australia’s acting chief executive, Kristin Stubbins, said the company was working as “quickly as possible” to name all those involved.

“We’ve heard the calls from our stakeholders to release the names of those who were responsible for confidentiality breaches and we’ve been working as quickly as possible to determine that and to disclose these names to the Senate per their request, and we have now done so,” she said in a statement on Monday.

“It is important for us to respect the ongoing investigations and legal processes to ensure this matter is investigated appropriately, and that is what we are doing.”

PwC acting chief executive Kristin Stubbins handed over the names of staff implicated.

The list includes four former partners – Peter Collins, Michael Bersten, Neil Fuller and Paul McNab – and names an additional 63 current or former partners staff who received at least one email containing the leaked information.

Last week, the Australian Federal Police launched a criminal investigation into allegations former executive Mr Collins shared confidential government information about changes to tax laws with partners, staff and clients which would be affected by them.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers said the government would consider if further action is required in due course.

“We think that there has been a substantial breach of faith and a substantial breach of trust here,” he told ABC radio on Monday.

“And we need to get on top of it so that people can have faith in the way that these things are done into the future.”

In an internal email sent to staff, Ms Stubbins said PwC had reached out to the implicated individuals over the weekend to “explain the situation”.

Ms Stubbins has also requested the Senate not name and shame all of the 63 staff identified.

“The reason for the length of this list is because an email, which did not indicate that the information it contained was confidential, was sent to two large mailing groups,” she wrote.

The names of those who received at least one email have been handed over. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

“It does not follow that these people were responsible for or were knowingly involved in a confidentiality breach.

“For that reason, it would be unfair for those names to be released, and as a result, we’ve asked the Senate not to publicly disclose the names in this group.

“Whilst we had an obligation to share these names with the Senate, it is important for us to respect the ongoing investigations and legal processes to ensure this matter is investigated appropriately, and that is what we are doing.”

Last week nine partners, including members of its executive and governance boards, were directed to go on leave, effective immediately, pending the outcome of its ongoing investigation into the incident.

PwC was due to appear before a Senate hearing into the consultancy sector on Wednesday, but it has since been deferred. Officials from Treasury, the Australian Taxation Office and rival firm KPMG will appear in its place.

Originally published as PwC hands over names of all staff involved in tax leak scandal