Scope of Switkowski’s PwC review revealed
The review of PwC Australia’s operations by former Telstra chief executive Ziggy Switkowski will not examine the firm’s tax leaks scandal or past conduct at the firm, according to its previously secret terms of reference.
Instead, the review will focus on ways the firm can reform its governance structure, how leaders are held to account and the culture of the organisation.
The scope of the Switkowski review, announced on May 15, were released as part of PwC’s response to questions on notice from Greens MP Abigail Boyd as part of a NSW parliamentary inquiry into consultants.
In the response, PwC says the review is due to hand its report to the firm by August 18, before being released publicly in September. The answers also reveal the firm does not keep a central list of personnel on secondment in the NSW public sector and that dozens of past and current personnel have mostly unpaid roles on public sector boards and committees.
The scope of the review states “the assessment of governance, accountability and culture is to be completed by reference to the point of time at which the expert [Switkowski] commences their fieldwork. However, we recognise documentation and other artefacts relating to specific matters may be required to inform the findings”.
The NSW inquiry is one of three parliamentary inquiries triggered by the firm’s tax leaks matter. It is the only inquiry to call PwC personnel. Former acting CEO Kristin Stubbins testified at a public hearing on June 26.
Greens MP Abigail Boyd. Brook Mitchell
PwC has separately commissioned law firms King & Wood Mallesons and Linklaters/Allens to investigate the tax leaks matter, but has not made any commitment to release those reports.
The scandal, first releaved by The
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