ACC 'blackmail' client's name revealed

A news report from 3 News/NZ Newswire

A dispute over confidential Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) files has deepened with a leak revealing the alleged involvement of brand and marketing expert Bronwyn Pullar. Ms Pullar has been named in the Herald on Sunday as the woman who was accidentally emailed a spreadsheet that included the names of about 6752 clients and the date and outcome of their review with the ACC, in August last year. The spreadsheet identified 131 claims being handled by the Sensitive Claims Unit, which deals with claims of sexual abuse, but did not contain specific details. ACC met with Ms Pullar after it was notified of the breach in December, and asked her to return the information and destroy any copies.
In a report to ACC Minister Judith Collins on Friday, ACC said the unnamed client threatened to send the information to the media unless her benefit payments were guaranteed for two years. "She made threats that if her demands were not met she would not return the information and she would inform the media of the alleged privacy issue."
But National Party insider Michelle Boag, who supported Ms Pullar at her initial meeting with ACC over the privacy breach, said it was an ACC staff member who suggested an arrangement could be made, the Herald on Sunday reports. "In the meeting he said if we agree on this as a way forward, a condition would have to be that you return the information," she said.
Ms Boag said ACC later wrote to Ms Pullar, offering a single year's benefit for a head injury Ms Pullar suffered nine years ago in a bike accident.
Ms Boag confirmed to NZ Newswire today that she wrote an email to Ms Collins last week, detailing her recollection. Ms Collins forwarded the email to ACC, and it had since been leaked to the media.
"None of us wanted this stuff to be public. That's why I wrote only to the minister. I'm not prepared to talk about it," Ms Boag said.
Her email said it was "verbally agreed" Ms Pullar would return the information "on agreement on the way forward", with an ACC staff member offering Pullar "one year to re-establish her business".
ACC is a state-owned insurer which provides no-fault personal injury cover.

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