PwC chairman refuses to share tax leaks scandal investigation with Australian parliament

PwC’s global chairman, Bob Moritz, has refused to comply with a request from the Australian parliament to share a copy of an investigation used to contain the tax leaks scandal to Australia.

“The investigation by Linklaters and counsel in multiple jurisdictions included forensic searches for documents as well as interviews,” PwC told a Senate inquiry into the consultancy industry.

“It is not surprising, therefore, that the receipt of OECD updates by tax professionals outside Australia, in and of itself, did not raise alarm among recipients or cause them to conclude a breach of confidentiality had occurred, absent any indications to the contrary.

“While these individuals may have fallen short of PwC’s high expectations that its people raise their hands in such a situation, this is not the same as having breached professional standards.”

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In February, officials from the Australian Taxation Office told the Senate inquiry that PwC International was likely to claim legal professional privilege over the Linklaters report.