Amid the fallout over KPMG, newly compiled data from the Parliamentary Library reveals the Federal Labor Government currently has 297 active contracts awarded to KPMG, for a total value of $653 million.
Despite revelations of multiple scandals, including allegations of misusing confidential client information to get more audit work and mistreating a whistleblower, the Government continues to employ KPMG's service.
31 government contracts worth nearly $24 million were sealed with KPMG after the scandals became public on 24 March this year - with ASIC, Finance, Attorney General's Department, BoM and Defence among them.
The Greens say the data shows KPMG's grip extends to nearly every corner of government and calls on Labor to review all current contracts and ban KPMG from any future contracts.
As stated by Greens finance and public service spokesperson Senator Barbara Pocock:
"This government is completely addicted to KPMG.
"The volume of contracts shows just how aggressive KPMG's push into government has been, and how addicted Labor remains to the Big 4 consultancy firms, when it should instead be investing in a strong public service.
"At a time when KPMG's dirty laundry is being aired, as scandals are being publicly exposed, Australians are rightly asking why the Labor Government continues to give them contracts worth millions.
"The Government must review all current contracts and ban KPMG from any future contracts until they've been properly investigated.
"Despite all the lessons of the PwC consultancy scandal, Labor's response has been woefully inadequate. Consultants continue to play by their own rule book as the latest misdemeanours by KPMG show.
"Political donations data shows that big consulting firms are still giving large donations to the government. Three of the Big 4 consultancy firms, among them KPMG, donate to the government - this is just wrong.
"Australians are fed up with the jobs-for-the-mates mentality that's plagued successive governments. We see endless appointments of Big 4 consultants to senior government and advisory roles. Most recently - and since the whistleblower's allegations became public - the appointment of a current KPMG partner to lead the government advisory body the Board of Taxation. How does this pass any conflict of interest test?
"Labor needs to put an end to the Big 4 donations to political parties and ban appointing Big 4 partners to senior government and advisory roles."
"The government's refusal to clean up the unethical practices rife across the consultancy sector and ban dodgy firms is why the Greens introduced a bill to parliament. We must close the legal loopholes that allow government contractors who behave unethically to get away with it.
