Big four firms should have partner numbers slashed by up to 600, parliamentary inquiry says

But banning political donations or restructuring firms to reduce conflict of interest was not part of recommendations

Big four firms should be banned from providing a client both audit and consultancy services at the same time, and have their number of partners slashed by up to 600, a parliamentary inquiry has recommended.

But it stopped short of calling for a ban on political donations or for the structural separation of consultancy firms to reduce conflicts of interest, as recommended by former competition watchdog chair Allan Fels.