PwC paid $12,000 to fly ATO’s Hirschhorn to Paris
PwC Australia has told the Senate inquiry into consultants that it paid $12,000 to fly Second Commissioner Jeremy Hirschhorn of the Tax Office to Paris to address its international tax conference in November 2019, at the height of a dispute between the big four firm and the Tax Office.
In answers to Questions on Notice from Greens Senator Barbara Pocock, PwC said the firm flew Mr Hirschhorn to Paris business class and paid for three nights accommodation at the Vendôme Hotel near the Louvre as well as ground transport costs.
Second Commissioner Jeremy Hirschhorn. Alex Ellinghausen
The firm also said that Mr Hirschhorn had been invited to speak at the conference by former PwC leader Tom Seymour. At the time Mr Seymour was the firm’s financial advisory leader.
PwC detailed how Mr Hirschhorn arrived in Paris on November 13th via a business class flight from Sydney. He gave an hour-long presentation at the conference on the following day and attended a conference dinner on November 15 before returning to Sydney.
The firm said six PwC Australia partners attended the conference but refused to identify them. The firm said it “arranged Mr Hirschhorn’s travel and accommodation, in consultation with Mr Hirschhorn’s team.“
PwC refused to comment about Mr Hirschhorn’s attendance at private dinners or meetings during the trip, saying they were a matter for the second commissioner.
Mr Hirschhorn told a Senate committee in October that it was appropriate he attend the conference and present on behalf of the ATO.
“I think it was actually more than appropriate, it was actually a very important conference for us to present at,” Mr Hirschhorn said. It followed a “very robust speech” he had made to each of the big four firms in Australia and
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