A major financial services firm is in the sights of the corporate regulator over the conduct of a few of its registered auditors, following whistleblower allegations.
Confirmation of an investigation came during a federal parliament joint committee hearing on Friday morning attended by Australian Securities and Investments Commission commissioners, including chair Joe Longo.
The commissioners, including deputy chair Sarah Court, Kate O'Rourke, and head of enforcement and compliance Chris Savundra, were being questioned by committee chair and Labor senator Deborah O'Neill.
Senator O'Neill referred, under parliamentary privilege, to a letter received by the committee from Lendlease chief executive Tony Lombardo, which she then tabled.
The letter, she told the hearing, discussed KPMG personnel on the audit team for the major developer "retaining and utilising access to audit tender pictures in Lendlease board papers to inform their tender for Westpac's audit".
