Summary:
The ‘big four’ consulting firms, including PwC, have expanded their federal business in Australia by 400% over the last decade, coinciding with consistent donations to the major political parties. According to a study by the Centre for Public Integrity, Australia’s leading anti-corruption think tank, the total contract value awarded to these firms has grown from $282 million to $1.4 billion annually. These findings add fuel to the ongoing debate over governmental reliance on consulting firms for advisory work, traditionally performed by the public service. Concerns over potential corruption and transparency have been amplified by recent scandals, such as PwC’s alleged misuse of confidential information from the Treasury. Meanwhile, PwC’s current contracts with federal departments are valued at $453.7 million, nearly half of which is with the Department of Defence. The Centre’s report highlights the need for reform, suggesting caps on consultancy budgets and lifting staffing limits within the Australian Public Service.
This summary comes from The Sydney Morning Herald, was written by David Crowe and Matthew Knott, and can be found here.