They use the word “independent” a lot. PwC has just appointed a firm called Webb Henderson as an “independent” authority to review the report of Ziggy Switkowski’s report into PwC.

That’s the one where PwC didn’t provide Ziggy with first-hand source materials. But just how independent are they?

It seems the Webb web includes a woman recently seconded to PwC. Webb Henderson has a track record doing telco regulatory advice but has no ostensible expertise in matters of PwC … well, apart from the fact that it was formed by former Gilbert & Tobin partners and G&T has connections with PwC.

Karen Evans-Cullen was called back to PwC as general counsel. She is on secondment to PwC from G&T. Credit where credit is due though. Lion of the Bar Tom Bathurst KC does front the PwC, sorry the G&T, sorry Webb Henderson team. Yet, as is de rigueur in such matters, it is the solicitors who do the hack-work and the barrister who holds forth with the purple prose. So having Tommy as front man is more veneer than substantive when it comes to “independence”.

It seems therefore that when former PwC boss Luke Sayers and co front Barbara Pocock and her Senate inquisitors today they may have some explaining to do. And where is that “independent” Linklaters report into the PwC scandal anyway? The Senate has asked for it but PwC Global is still giving the bird to Australia’s parliament.

Ziggy plays for time: PwC’s dual ‘independent reports’ a dual whitewash

This post was originally published on Michael West.