Key events
KPMG apologises to whistleblower as inquiry looms
Luca Ittimani
KPMG has contacted the man who blew the whistle on its audit leaks scandal to apologise, ahead of an inquiry into its failures today.
The whistleblower was a KPMG employee who sent an email raising alarm in May ۲۰۲۴, in which he claims he was covered by Australia’s legal protections.
In a letter published by the inquiry committee, Mike Ebeid, KPMG’s new chair, offers a series of mea culpas.
Ebeid told the whistleblower that KPMG still believed not think his email was protected by Australia’s complex whistleblower laws. Ebeid said the firm had still treated the issue as if it were being raised as an official whistleblower issue and would not challenge the matter if a legal case was brought against it.
Ebeid has also admitted the firm did not ask its lawyers to investigate “every aspect” of the whistleblower’s allegations, meaning it did not look into some of the ethical issues now being examined.
He said KPMG had in April ۲۰۲۶ wrongly claimed it had “not substantiated” allegations of internal leaks because investigations by December ۲۰۲۵ had found confidential information was being shared.
Man dies after house fire on NSW south coast
Achol Arok
NSW Police have declared a critical incident investigation into the death of a man who allegedly barricaded himself inside a home and started a fire.
Emergency services attended a unit on the state’s south coast at about ۱.۱۵pm on Thursday, following reports of concern for the man’s welfare.
Authorities were forced to gain entry to the unit and extinguish the fire.
The ۵۷-year-old man was treated for his injuries at the scene but could not be revived.
The man has yet to be formally identified. A report will be prepared for the coroner.
Welcome
Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. I’m Martin Farrer with the top overnight stories and then it will be Nick Visser with the main action.
KPMG has reached out to apologise to the man who exposed its audit leaks scandal before an inquiry into its failures today, while Labor MPs want the government to do more to protect whistleblowers. More coming up.
NSW police have declared a critical incident investigation into the death of a man who allegedly barricaded himself inside a home in Bomaderry and started a fire. More details coming up.
