Key facts
- An EY graduate employee was sacked for allegedly accessing Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's bank account.
- The alleged breach occurred while the graduate was on secondment at Commonwealth Bank of Australia.
- Two men have been charged by the Australian Federal Police in connection with the incident.
- Treasurer Jim Chalmers stated the allegations are 'incredibly concerning.'
- The former employee also accessed confidential bank details of at least one senior EY partner.
An EY graduate employee has been sacked and two men charged following allegations they accessed Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's personal bank account details. The incident occurred while the EY graduate was on secondment at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, where they allegedly used the bank's systems to gain access to confidential banking information.
Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers described the allegations as 'incredibly concerning,' emphasizing the need for caution due to ongoing legal processes. He stated that such developments are concerning not only for the Prime Minister's details but for any Australian's.
The Australian Federal Police have charged two men in connection with the breach, with their court appearance scheduled for August 25. The former employee also reportedly accessed the confidential bank details of at least one senior EY partner.
This incident follows a series of scandals involving the Big Four accounting firms in Australia, including allegations against EY rival KPMG regarding the misuse of client data and mishandling of whistleblower reports.