Friday, October 5, 2018

'Big four' accounting firms should face banking royal commission to prove independence: former ASIC investigator Glen Unicomb

Former ASIC Glen Unicomb has called for the major accounting firms hired to audit and approve sensitive company reports to be brought before the financial services royal commission to prove their independence. 

Listen to my interview with Glen Unicomb

Read the piece on ABC News Online

Mr Unicomb believes the "big four" accounting firms — PwC, Deloitte, EY and KPMG — risk being exposed to pressure to approve reports to protect lucrative advisory relationships. 

Mr Unicomb tells ABC's Peter Ryan that ASIC has preferred to do deals such as enforceable undertakings rather than pursue civil or criminal prosecutions.

Tuesday, October 2, 2018

Legendary ABC journalist and presenter Ian Henderson retiring after 38 years at Aunty


Ian Henderson is of the the most inspiring people I have worked with - and I'm proud to call him a mate.

Hendo has been presenting the Victorian edition of the ABC's 7pm News since 1992 when he took over from Mary Delahunty.

What a great career - ABC Europe Correspondent in the late 80s as the Soviet Union's grip on Eastern Europe crumbled is surely one of the highlights of a stellar career.

I was fortunate to work with Ian as a fellow reporter and later when I was the ABC's Head of TV News & Current Affairs in Victoria.

Ian has nurtured dozens of journalists (including myself) over the years. He has maintained high standards to ensure that the ABC's news programs are jargon free, clear, honest and truthful with the viewers interests the first priority.

Here's how Ian announced his retirement on ABC Melbourne with Jon Faine earlier today

And here's a tribute to Ian on the ABC News Online site - one of the many we'll see in the coming days





Extra time on offer but Kenneth Hayne yet to ask for Royal Commission extension

ABC's Peter Ryan says Royal Commissioner Kenneth Hayne has the option of asking for additional time for hearings but is yet to ask. 

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has repeatedly said that if Commissioner Hayne wants more time, he'll get it. 

The Commission's final report is due on February 1.

Here's my report from this morning's AM