Leanne Trask

Member’s name: Leanne Trask
Date of Hearing: 26 May 2025
Division: Victoria
Tribunal: Disciplinary

On 26 May 2025 the Disciplinary Tribunal found Mrs Leanne Trask breached CPA Australia’s 14 May 2019 Constitution:

• Article 39(a)(ii)(A), having “breached this Constitution (or the constitution of the Company in force immediately before the Amending Date), By-Laws, Code of Professional Conduct or the Applicable Regulations” in that she provided professional services without holding a current policy of professional indemnity insurance, as required by By-Law 9.8.
• Article 39(a)(ii)(A) having “breached this Constitution (or the constitution of the Company in force immediately before the Amending Date), By-Laws, Code of Professional Conduct or the Applicable Regulations” in that she breached APES 110 subsection 114 by failing to comply with the requirement of Confidentiality that requires a Member not disclose confidential information acquired as a result of professional and business relationships outside the Firm or employing organisation without proper and specific authority, unless there is a legal or professional duty or right to disclose; and not to use any confidential information, either acquired or received as a result of a professional or business relationship for the advantage of a third party by issuing a letter to a client of Wilson Pateras, using the letterhead of a former employer for the benefit of a third party.
• Article 39(a)(ii)(A), having “breached this Constitution (or the constitution of the Company in force immediately before the Amending Date), By-Laws, Code of Professional Conduct or the Applicable Regulations" in that she breached subsection 115 of APES 110 that requires a Member to comply with the principle of professional behaviour avoiding any conduct that may discredit the profession, by issuing a letter using the letterhead of a former employer when she knew or ought to have known that the client was a client of her employer at the relevant time.

Mrs Leanne Trask attended the Disciplinary Tribunal Hearing, and admitted the Complaints.

Penalty and Costs:

The Disciplinary Tribunal found the Complaints sustained and imposed the following penalties for Complaints 1,2 and 3:

• Suspension of Membership, for three years commencing 26 May 2024.
• Completion of the course “My Firm. My Future”, before the end of the suspension period to the satisfaction of the General Manager Professional Conduct.

The Member was ordered to pay CPA Australia’s costs of $11, 971.00.