NSW pauses PwC work
The NSW Government has imposed a three-month ban on PwC.
The ban will prevent the consultancy firm from acquiring new tax consultancy contracts with the government. The decision was made in response to revelations that PwC had leaked confidential information from the Commonwealth.
NSW Finance Minister Courtney Houssos, in a statement released on Thursday, described the suspension as a “proportionate response” to the ongoing investigations into the scandal.
Houssos said that the government would continue to strengthen its measures as additional evidence emerged.
In addition to the suspension, PwC must provide assurance to the government that any staff members involved in breaching confidentiality or misusing information while working for the federal Treasury will not be involved in any state government projects.
To comply with this requirement, senior management from PwC met with NSW Procurement on June 1 and provided written confirmation that no personnel implicated in the ongoing scandal have participated in state government contracts.
This action follows a recent announcement by NSW, which imposed substantial fines on individuals and companies involved in sharing confidential government information. Furthermore, the decision is influenced by a report from the NSW auditor general, which highlighted deficiencies in the government's procurement and management of consultants.