Two former graduates from the accounting firm Ernst and Young (EY) have been sacked and charged by Australian Federal Police for allegedly accessing the personal banking details of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and a senior EY executive. The incidents occurred while the two men, aged 21 and 25, were on secondment at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) to consult on its technology systems.
The Australian Financial Review reported that sources indicated the pair accessed the banking details of both Albanese and a senior EY partner during their placement. Accessing customer information would have triggered system warnings requiring authorization for such actions. EY's contract with CBA stipulates that staff must only access customer accounts for legitimate work purposes and undergo extensive training on data privacy.
The younger graduate, 21, faces charges including unauthorized access to or modification of restricted data, and using a carriage service to make available, publish, or distribute personal information in a manner considered menacing or harassing. The 25-year-old graduate is charged with one count of unauthorized access to restricted data.
Both individuals are scheduled to appear in Newtown Local Court on Tuesday. A CBA spokesperson stated that the bank would not comment on individual contractor matters. EY declined to comment, but the firm has reportedly reinforced its strict data policies with employees following the alleged breach, after being alerted by CBA.
The alleged breach comes as rival firm KPMG faces separate accusations regarding the misuse of confidential board papers to secure audit contracts and mistreatment of a whistleblower. KPMG is currently under a three-month moratorium on new finance department work.
Prime Minister Albanese's son, Nathan, also works for Commonwealth Bank, having previously completed an internship at PwC. Reports indicate that his father, when serving as Opposition Leader, intervened to help secure that internship.