Colin KrugerUpdated June 19, 2026 — 10:07am,first published June 19, 2026 — 8:21amWatch live as KPMG, its lawyers, clients, regulators and associates face a grillingBy Colin KrugerWelcome to our live blog of the parliamentary joint committee public hearing into the KPMG whistleblower scandal in Canberra.Latest Posts10.07amWhistleblower approached CAANZ in 2023By Colin KrugerO’Neill: “In July 2023 that was the first approach by the whistleblower, who then approached you again in November 23, and again in March of 2025?”Chapman: “I was corresponding with that person in 2023 The initial contact was to request some information about making a complaint under the by-laws on an anonymous or pseudonymous basis, and I explained that our bylaws don’t allow for formal complaints to be initiated on an anonymous basis, and that’s because a complainant has rights under our bylaws to see copies of all of the documents that a member might provide.” 10.03amCAANZ says no record of whistleblower matter before March this yearBy Colin KrugerCA ANZ’s general counsel Vanessa Chapman has been questioned about what the accounting body knew about the whistleblower’s allegations, and when they were aware of these.Chapman says KPMG’s former chief executive Andrew Yates referred to the whistleblower matter being discussed with CAANZ last year, but adds: “I have no notes... of any whistleblower matter being referred by Mr Yates to me in 2025, or otherwise.”9.59amClient confidentiality is at the heart of the profession CAANZ By Colin KrugerChapman: “As Ainslie has said, this is 101. Client confidentiality is at the heart of professional service provision. Client confidentiality is, it’s foundational. It is foundational to trust in audit and to trust in professional services. The client confidentiality provisions … senator are really explicit and they are unambiguous.”9.56amCA ANZ blasted on language gap By Colin KrugerScarr: “You use this phrase, ‘fall short’. ‘They have fallen short’, as if there’s some aspiration up here … can I, can I suggest to you, perhaps a better phrase would be egregious breach?”9.51am‘Ethics has fallen at the first hurdle’ By Colin KrugerGreens senator Barbara Pocock puts it to van Onselen that there have been major ethical failings with the KPMG scandal. No arguments about that from van Onselen.Pocock: “Ethics have fallen at the first hurdle where confidential information had the possibility of generating income. Do you agree with that?”Van Onselen: “I do agree, it’s a basic principle of ethics to not breach your client confidentiality.”9.49amScarr: Rot comes from the top By Colin KrugerLiberal senator Paul Scarr: “What hope do we have if you’re getting such poor leadership, poor leadership to the new generation coming through the profession, who are meant to be carrying that flame of trust in terms of audit responsibilities?” “[And] this poor whistleblower. Who’s acting for them? Who’s representing them? Where’s their legal protection? Who’s in their corner trying to navigate through this process? They’re just left adrift.”9.46am‘This is systemic failure’: ScarrBy Colin KrugerLiberal senator Paul Scarr: “This is systemic failure in terms of regulating this important profession. Do you agree?”Van Onselen, from CA ANZ: “I don’t agree that there’s been systemic failure.”9.44amScarr lashes CA ANZ and KPMGBy Colin KrugerLiberal senator Paul Scarr: “I put it to you, Ms Onselen, that CA ANZ has failed.” “We’re sitting here in 2026 and, again, one of the top four firms. I don’t know how many members you’ve got from KPMG as part of CA ANZ. Chief executive officer gone, head of audit and assurance gone, chief operating officer demoted, senior audit partner (demoted) the lead partner in Westpac. It’s failed, hasn’t it, Ms Onselen?”9.39am‘Do not speak over the senators and members’ By Colin KrugerO’Neill settles the hearing after robust exchanges with van Onselen. “If you want to put further matters to speak on public record, you can do that after this inquiry, but do not speak over senators and members, and make sure that you answer the question that you’re asked.”9.36amCA ANZ says it can’t ban KPMG over bad behaviour By Colin KrugerChapman has explained the limits of the powers available to the accounting body. “CA ANZ doesn’t have the ability to ban a firm as a whole, participation in the scheme is at the individual member level, and so there are a number of members at KPMG,” she tells the committee.1 of 3