KPMG Australia confirms misuse of Optus data in ethics scandal

KPMG Australia confirmed that Optus data was also misused as the firm faced a widening ethics scandal reported on 18 June 2025.

TL;DR

• KPMG Australia said Optus data was misused.
• The disclosure expands a scandal that already involved alleged misuse of confidential Lendlease board papers.
• The earlier allegations said the material was used to support audit tender bids for Westpac and Dexus.

KPMG Australia is facing scrutiny after confirming misuse of Optus data, according to a report published by The Economic Times citing Reuters. The report describes this as the second major scandal involving a Big Four accounting firm in Australia since 2023.

The earlier allegations came from a whistleblower, who said KPMG Australia misused confidential board papers from Lendlease. According to the report, the material was allegedly used to support bids for major audit tenders involving Westpac and Dexus.

The source report identifies the affected companies as Optus, Lendlease, Westpac, and Dexus, all in Australia. The report does not provide technical telecom details, customer impact figures, or any eSIM-specific operational effect linked to Optus.

Related questions

• What did KPMG Australia confirm about Optus data?
• Which companies were named in the KPMG Australia misconduct allegations?
• How did the whistleblower say Lendlease board papers were used?