The first the Privacy Commissioner knew of an alleged privacy breach by ACC was when media contacted her.© 2012 Fairfax New Zealand Ltd
Commissioner Marie Shroff is investigating how the personal details of thousands of claimants were accidentally sent to claimant Bronwyn Pullar. That investigation may also look at how Pullar's own personal information, in an email by former National Party president Michelle Boag, was leaked to a Sunday newspaper.
Pullar had contacted the Commissioner about a separate issue late last year, but the first they knew of the leaked spreadsheet containing information about thousands of claims, was when a journalist rang her office.
Assistant Commissioner legal and policy Katrine Evans said it would be normal practice for ACC to contact the Commissioner if they were aware of the breach.
"What I understand, when we first got the media inquiry, we had no knowledge."
The inquiry would look at what happened with ACC, when they became aware, and what they should have done once the knew of the breach, she said.
ACC became aware of the breach in December during a meeting with Pullar. The information was also sent as an attachment in one of many emails from Pullar to the State Services Commission last year but they did not realise they had the information until a review was conducted recently.
ACC Minister Judith Collins is threatening to take defamation action against Labour MPs Trevor Mallard and Andrew Little and Radio New Zealand, over suggestions she was the source of the leaked email about Pullar - something Collins vehemently denies.
Prime Minister John Key said that if and when Collins took defamation action was a matter for her.
"I support her action, she wants to clear her name, she feels very strongly that she was impugned and on that basis she's taken her own action, it's her own money, her own resources, she's free to do that."
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/6693862/Privacy-Commissioner-late-to-ACC-leaks
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