A government review in Australia found that KPMG Australia improperly handled a whistleblower complaint about the possible misuse of confidential information by company employees while participating in tenders for new audit contracts. At the same time, the review did not recommend permanently barring the firm from working with the federal government, TimesLIVE reports.
Australia’s Department of Finance, which commissioned the review from former public servant Ian Watt, said that KPMG had agreed not to bid for new federal contracts until February next year. This extends a pause in effect since June while the company implements additional governance changes.
The report stated that KPMG should not be considered permanently unsuitable for work with the Australian Commonwealth government. At the same time, trust in the company should not be restored solely on the basis of its assurances and early positive signs of reform. The government was advised not to allow the firm into new tenders until both the implementation of changes and their effect on employee behaviour have been independently confirmed.
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