CANBERRA — KPMG admitted that staff shared confidential information belonging to Optus with colleagues involved in a bid for an audit contract with Telstra. Former chief executive Andrew Yates resigned in May following confirmation of the Optus leak.

KPMG also determined that partners leaked confidential information from Lendlease. Additionally, a partner made a remark suggesting colleagues review confidential information from Dexus. Martin Sheppard confirmed that KPMG staff shared unredacted confidential information between the Optus audit team and the Telstra audit bid team.

KPMG executives surveilled a whistleblower's laptop. Julian McPherson authorized a search of the whistleblower's computer on May 30, 2024. McPherson stated the authorization was due to concerns the whistleblower might leak KPMG information while seeking other employment. On the same day, the whistleblower emailed McPherson reporting colleague actions and alleging retaliation for speaking up. McPherson discussed the whistleblower's letter with KPMG's human resources team and later its legal team. Additional computer searches of the whistleblower's device occurred on November 21 and 26, 2024.

Yates stated that the November searches uncovered new evidence supporting the whistleblower's allegations. "There was evidence to support some of the whistleblower allegations that, had I overseen things differently, we could have found earlier, and it was that day that I realised that I felt I needed to take accountability." Yates said. He also stated, "I don't think we made the whistleblower feel comfortable through the process. I feel that we could have made the process easier and I also feel probably we could have made it a more humanistic approach." KPMG executives initially classified the whistleblower's complaints as workplace grievances.

Senator Deborah O'Neill shared the whistleblower's testimony under parliamentary privilege on March 24. Parliamentary joint committee members questioned KPMG's initial classification of the whistleblower's complaint as a human resources matter. The whistleblower, a former KPMG employee, stated, "These are not isolated incidents but instead endemic within the organisation whereby profit and revenue growth is placed above everything else, including integrity, people, wellbeing and fundamentally doing the right thing. The lack of speak up culture, the culture of fear, retribution and revenue growth at all costs is not acceptable."

Eileen Hoggett and Paul Rogers stood down from audit work at KPMG. The Australian Securities and Investments Commission is investigating Hoggett and Rogers over their alleged role in leaking Lendlease information. Lendlease will seek a new auditor. Tony Lombardo, Lendlease chief executive, stated Lendlease will seek reimbursement from KPMG for costs associated with replacing its auditor. KPMG and Yates informed Lombardo in May that they investigated and dismissed the leak allegations. Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand is investigating Yates and 11 others regarding the ethics breaches. Yates received 1.7 million Australian dollars for his resignation notice period and 2.4 million Australian dollars upon retirement under the firm's partnership agreement. KPMG has not substantiated allegations regarding receiving inappropriate guidance while bidding for and winning Westpac's audit contract.