NSW has banned PwC from getting new government tax consultancy contracts for three months, in response to revelations the consultancy giant leaked confidential Commonwealth information.
NSW Finance Minister Courtney Houssos announced on Thursday that PwC has been suspended from obtaining new engagements within Category Type 7 – Taxation of the Government’s Performance and Management Services Scheme as a “proportionate response” to current investigations into the scandal.
She said the government would toughen its regime as further evidence came to light.
“I was appalled by the breach of trust that occurred with the federal government,” Ms Houssos said in a statement.
“As additional evidence comes to light we will continue to toughen our regime and protect the NSW community from this behaviour.”
PwC will also have to assure the government that no staff members who has breached confidentiality or misused information as part of work for federal Treasury will do work for the state government.
Ms Houssos says senior PwC management met with NSW Procurement on June 1 and provided written confirmation that no staff implicated in the current scandal have worked on any state government contracts.
It comes after NSW last month announced it hit individuals and companies who share confidential government information with multi-million dollar fines.
The suspension also follows a NSW auditor general’s report that found deficiencies in the way the state government procures and manages consultants.
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