Accenture receives $21m boost for Australian defence contract despite audit concerns

The Australian Department of Defence has approved $21 million in contract extensions and variations for Accenture’s MyClearance project, despite previous audit findings highlighting procurement failures.

Documents from AusTender reveal that these additions to the now-$164-million contract were signed off in 2025. This follows a July 2024 review by the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO), which found that Defence staff breached policies by allowing Accenture to rework and reprice its bid after being named the preferred supplier. The ANAO noted that the department failed to demonstrate the contract delivered value for money through effective competition.

The MyClearance platform, a whole-of-government security clearance system launched in late 2022, has been plagued by user reports of glitches, barred access, and delays. Senator David Pocock expressed concern that the recent contract changes may not represent value for money, noting a lack of public evidence that the ANAO’s recommendations have been implemented.