The board has banned Peter Collins,the former PwC partnerwho leaked confidential government tax plans,from acting as a tax practitioner until next year.
A 148-page documentwas publicly released last week detailing the evidence from the board’s investigation which revealed how confidential information on plans to combat multinational tax avoidance was shared widely among other staff and partners within the multinational firm,and marketed to clients.
At a Senate estimates inquiry in March,Greens senator Nick McKim asked Treasury if it had referred the matter to the Australian Federal Police for any potential criminal breaches,and if it had sought legal advice on any potential criminal breaches. Treasury said last week that it had not referred the matter to the AFP,but added that “legal advice has been sought in relation to this matter”.
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Treasury’s statement on Wednesday evening confirms that it had not seen the TPB document when it decided not to refer the matter to the AFP.
This masthead is not suggesting that Collins has engaged in criminal conduct,only that Treasury is considering whether to take any further steps against him and/or PwC relating to the leaking of confidential information.
Collins has not been reachable for comment since the ban became public in January.