Procurement Policy Note – Conclusion of Review into PricewaterhouseCoopers Australia

Purpose

This Procurement Policy Note is to advise Commonwealth entities that the Department of Finance (Finance) has completed its examination of the ethical soundness of PricewaterhouseCoopers Australia (PwC Australia).

View the final report Examination of the ethical soundness of PricewaterhouseCoopers Australia.

Context

To ensure a coordinated and efficient approach across the Commonwealth, Finance has taken responsibility for managing the Commonwealth’s response to the ethical issues arising from the PwC Australia/Tax Practitioner Board matter and forming a whole of government view on PwC Australia’s ethical soundness.

Outcome

Finance has concluded that PwC Australia has implemented and/or revised its policies and process to meet the ethical standards of governance, culture, and accountability to support PwC Australia’s re-engagement with the Australian Government. As a result of this examination, the mutual agreement between Finance and PwC Australia - under which PwC Australia did not bid for new Commonwealth work – has ceased, effective from 15 July 2025.

Commonwealth entities should treat PwC Australia equitably as they would any other potential supplier when undertaking procurement processes.

PwC Australia divested its state and federal government business to Scyne Advisory and agreed that PwC Australia would not compete for contracts in the general government sector for a period of five years (to 9 November 2028) and 2 years for Public Financial Corporations and Public Non-Financial Corporations (to 9 November 2025) with some minor exceptions.

Finance will be monitoring PwC Australia until 30 June 2027. The following will be aspects of Finance’s ongoing monitoring to ensure PwC Australia’s actions and behaviour meet the high ethical standards expected by the Commonwealth.

1. where under contract to an Australian Government entity, PwC Australia to notify Finance of any potential or actual breaches of the Commonwealth Supplier Code of Conduct;
2. PwC Australia provide to Finance six-monthly updates on:
   1. its progress in embedding its actions from PwC Australia’s Commitments to Change; and
   2. advice on breaches of PwC Australia’s Code of Conduct and the outcome of any resulting finalised investigations; and
3. Finance continue to regularly engage with Australian Government entities contracting with PwC Australia to identify any issues of contractual underperformance, including ethical concerns.

Further Advice

Entities are reminded to apply the Commonwealth Procurement Rules, including consideration of a potential supplier’s relevant experience, performance history, and ethical conduct, as part of achieving value for money when conducting procurements.

Entities should continue to be mindful of the need to monitor the ethical behaviour of suppliers throughout the term of any contract. Information regarding the ethical conduct of suppliers and the Commonwealth Supplier Code of Conduct can be found on the Finance website.

Further questions can be directed to ProcurementAgencyAdvice@finance.gov.au.