Australian treasurer says alleged access of prime minister’s bank data ‘incredibly concerning’

SYDNEY, Australia – Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers said on Tuesday a report that two Ernst & Young employees on temporary assignment at Commonwealth Bank of Australia allegedly accessed Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s personal banking details was “incredibly concerning.”

The Australian Financial Review (AFR) newspaper reported on Tuesday, June 30, that EY had sacked two employees who were facing criminal charges after they allegedly accessed Albanese’s bank details and those of at least one EY partner.

EY declined to comment on the report, and Albanese’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

A CBA spokesperson said “it is not appropriate for us to comment on individual contractor matters.”

Chalmers told reporters he would not comment on legal processes under way.

“But I think on the face of it any developments of that kind are incredibly concerning, not just in relation to the PM’s details but any Australians’ details,” Chalmers said.

The media report comes as EY’s peer KPMG faces an audit leak scandal, adding pressure on Big Four accounting firms after their new-business revenue from the Australian federal government fell by almost half last year.

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) said it had charged two Sydney men on May 6 with allegedly accessing restricted personal banking data belonging to a federal parliamentarian.

A 21-year-old man was charged with unauthorized access to restricted data and publishing or distributing personal data, and a 25-year-old man was charged with unauthorized access to restricted data, intending to cause the access and knowing it was unauthorized.

The AFP did not name the lawmaker but said both men were granted police bail to appear in a Sydney court on Tuesday.

“As the matter is before the court, no further comment will be made,” an AFP spokesperson said by email.

The AFR report, citing unidentified sources, said the two men deployed to CBA would have received a system warning requiring them to confirm they were permitted to access a customer’s confidential information.

Once they agreed they were authorized, the system granted access to personal bank details, the report added. – Rappler.com