PwC promoted firm it part-owned in ‘independent’ mental health report for Australian government

Exclusive: Report referenced key findings from trials by Innowell, in which PwC had a 45% shareholding

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Consultancy giant PwC promoted the work of a company it part-owned in a report it produced for the federal government about Australia’s digital mental health strategy – while being paid $1m for the “independent” advice.

PwC’s 45% shareholding in Innowell was declared to the government before the contract was awarded but not in the final report which was delivered in November 2022. A disclaimer section states the firm “acted exclusively for the Australian government department of health and considered no one else’s interests”.

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