9. Question No. 9—ACCJAN LOGIE (Green) to the Minister for ACCQuestion No. 9—ACC9. JAN LOGIE (Green) to the Minister for ACC: Does she have confidence in ACC's ability to safeguard the privacy of claimants including those who are survivors of sexual violence in light of the privacy breach reported today?Hon JAN TINETTI (Minister of Internal Affairs) on behalf of the Minister for ACC: Yes.Jan Logie: How can victims have confidence that ACC treats privacy seriously when it took a whistle-blower going to the media for the agency to identify and then respond to a significant breach of privacy by a dozen staff including a manager?Hon JAN TINETTI: On behalf of the Minister I was appalled when I was informed of this group. I have spoken to the acting chief executive and made it clear that this is unacceptable and I expect all ACC staff to respect claimants' privacy. I'm advised the staff involved have been suspended. One of the acting chief executive's senior leadership team is leading an investigation and will be reporting his findings directly to me. ACC has already been looking into staff access to sensitive claims information but there is clearly more work to be done.Jan Logie: What explanation has the Minister received for why ACC did not identify and respond to this breach earlier?Hon JAN TINETTI: As I've said in my previous answer before this issue came to light ACC had already begun looking into staff access to sensitive claims information. ACC's leadership team are taking this case very seriously. ACC's acting chief executive contacted me yesterday to advise that ACC had received an email containing screenshots that appeared to show a group of current and former staff sharing claim information on social media. At that point I made it clear that this is unacceptable and I expect all ACC staff to respect claimants' privacy. He has moved quickly and decisively to suspend the staff involved. As I've said one of his executive team is leading an investigation and will be reporting the findings directly to me. As this is now an employment matter under active investigation it would not be appropriate for me to speak to any further details.Jan Logie: Point of order Mr Speaker. That was useful information but didn't seem to me to address the key point of why they didn't pick it up themselves and it required the whistle-blower.SPEAKER: I'll ask the member to ask her question again.Jan Logie: What explanation has the Minister received for why ACC did not identify and respond to this breach earlier?Hon JAN TINETTI: As I pointed out this is under active investigation at this point in time. That information will be directed completely back to the Minister at that point in time in which time the Minister will be able to give a more fulsome answer.Jan Logie: Can the Minister assure this House there have been no other instances of private information being shared in social media groups by ACC staff over the last five years?Hon JAN TINETTI: On behalf of the Minister I have not been made aware of any historic cases where private information has been shared on social media and I have made it clear that I expect that all staff respect claimants' privacy and are aware of their obligations under the Privacy Act and Health Information Privacy Code.Jan Logie: Is it true that one of ACC's strategic priorities is privacy and this has been a priority for many years?Hon JAN TINETTI: It is my expectation as it is of all New Zealanders that all New Zealanders should expect that their documents and their privacy are respected by ACC at the utmost level.Jan Logie: How can we have confidence in ACC doing an internal review of privacy when it supposedly has been a strategic priority for many years they've been in trouble for privacy breaches before and they are not picking up absolutely flagrant breaches of their own policy?Hon JAN TINETTI: On behalf of the Minister I am very concerned about this breach that has been reported in the media today and over previous weeks. In two weeks' time ACC's new chief executive will begin her new role. I have made it clear to ACC that privacy and culture are to be a priority and this will be in my next letter of expectation which I will discuss with her and the new board chair in coming weeks. If it is found that there is a systemic issue at ACC I expect them to use whatever means necessary to fix it.