Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security in Australia

Australia gives us a governance signal rather than a buying one. FOI documents show the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet is monitoring risks linked to KPMG's appointment as internal auditor amid the firm's ethical controversy. For professional services suppliers, that keeps attention firmly on audit, assurance and conflict management.

Australia offers the other side of that access question. KPMG Australia has told a US regulator that its ability to tender for government work in Australia is constrained until at least the end of the month. That's not a new tender, but it is a real market signal. In professional services, a temporary limit on one major bidder can affect competition and client choices very quickly.