KPMG faces Senate scrutiny over whistleblower scandal and document withholding

Former KPMG director and ex‑NSW premier Mike Baird resigned from the firm’s board, saying the company was "too trusting" of whistleblower claims that senior staff accessed confidential client data, and criticised KPMG’s use of legal professional privilege to block documents from a Senate inquiry.

A Senate committee is probing the scandal, which centres on allegations that KPMG staff improperly used information from clients such as Lendlease to win audit tenders. The firm, which holds 297 Australian government contracts worth about AU$653 million, has been ordered to provide the documents or risk contempt. Senior executives Andrew Yates and Julian McPherson have resigned, and a new independent review has been launched.

Lendlease chief Tony Lombardo and other witnesses are expected to appear before the committee. The finance department has imposed a three‑month moratorium on new KPMG contracts, and the Senate has referred the matter to the National Anti‑Corruption Commission.