“This is about cover-up. This is about PwC trying to stem the flow of an artery that’s well and truly open now,” O’Neill told the ABC on Tuesday.
“The reality is that this is a company that has not been open and honest with the Australian people.”
The PwC scandal was exposed in JanuarybyThe Australian Financial Review,which revealed the firm’s tax partner Peter Collins had shared confidential government briefings about tax policy with partners and clients.
Loading
Since then,the Senate has honed its scrutiny of the firm through a committee inquiry and the prime-time drama of estimates,widening the net.
A bombshell trove of internal PwC emails,published in response to O’Neill’s estimates questions earlier this month,revealed 50-plus staff and partners were implicated. That included chief executiveTom Seymour,who stepped down days later after it was revealed he was one of the recipients of the internal emails sent by Collins. Afurther nine partners were stood down this week. The Australian Federal Police is now investigating Collins and the firm.