The KPMG Australia Scandal
The KPMG Australia scandal began with a whistleblower’s 2024 allegations that senior partners misused confidential Lendlease board documents to gain an unfair edge in winning major audit mandates, including Westpac. The story escalated in 2026 through parliamentary revelations, a firm admission of the breach, leadership resignations, further claims of misconduct, and growing financial strain on the firm.
Timeline at a Glance
10 October 2023 — Lendlease documents accessed and displayed during a Westpac pitch meeting at KPMG
6 November 2023 — Dexus “Lunchgate” laptop incident at KPMG’s Barangaroo office
Late 2023 – March 2024 — Westpac audit tender. Peter Nash (Westpac board audit committee chair and former KPMG chairman 2011–2017) stayed at the house of KPMG Australia Chairman Martin Sheppard during the pitch
May 2024 — Whistleblower first raises allegations with KPMG Australia
30 May 2024 — KPMG authorises first search of the whistleblower’s laptop (authorised by Julian McPherson)
21 & 26 November 2024 — Further searches of the whistleblower’s laptop carried out
November 2024 — KPMG wins Dexus audit
2023–2024 — Whistleblower claims KPMG used confidential information and relationships with ex-KPMG partners (including Michelle Hinchliffe at Macquarie) to win the Macquarie Group audit
May 2025 — Whistleblower escalates to KPMG International chair Bill Thomas and global general counsel Anne Collins; global leadership declines to investigate
24 March 2026 — Allegations made public in Parliament by Senator Deborah O’Neill
14 May 2026 — KPMG admits breach of client confidentiality
29 May 2026 — CEO Andrew Yates and National Managing Partner of Audit Julian McPherson resign
3 June 2026 — COO Eileen Hoggett steps down from executive role
19 June 2026 — Parliamentary inquiry hearings; KPMG Australia Chairman Martin Sheppard, former CEO Andrew Yates, Lendlease executives and others testify
23 June 2026 — KPMG Australia Chairman Martin Sheppard announces resignation; former COO Eileen Hoggett and audit partner Paul Rogers to leave the firm
2026 — KPMG admits additional breaches, including sharing of confidential Optus information with the internal Telstra bid team
Mid-June 2026 onward — Financial pressures and client fallout intensify
