Little Andrew: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Little Andrew: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Sitting date: 19 June 2012. Volume:681;Page:3048. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
11. 
ANDREW LITTLE (Labour) 
 to the  
Minister for ACC 
: On how many occasions and for what periods of time on each occasion did she meet with or have discussions with the ACC Chairman or Chief Executive including about the matter of the mass privacy breach involving Bronwyn Pullar between 13 March and 19 March when that matter was referred to the Police by way of formal complaint? 
Hon JUDITH COLLINS (Minister for ACC) 
: 
 The Chief Executive of ACC texted me on Tuesday 13 March that there was a story in the  
Dominion Post 
. He subsequently spoke to me to advise that ACC was investigating the matter and he would keep me informed. I met the chair of the ACC board and the Chief Executive of ACC in Auckland on Wednesday 14 March. The focus of that meeting was the 6700 claimants whose privacy had been breached. On Friday 16 March the report from ACC was provided to me when I was in Auckland—the same day it was publicly released. I had my regular meeting with the Chief Executive of ACC the Department of Labour and officials on Monday 19 March which commenced at 4.15 p.m. I do not know whether that was before or after the final police complaint was signed. 
Andrew Little 
: Does she accept that her answer to question No. 12 last Thursday that “The 16 March report clearly states on page 3 that the matter was referred to police on 13 March …” is wrong in light of both the 16 March report itself which actually states: “The police were contacted regarding the meeting with the client in December …” and a statement from the police last Thursday confirming that the matter was not referred to them until Monday 19 March? 
Hon JUDITH COLLINS 
: The member is wrong. The report itself at 6.5 says that “The Privacy Commissioner was advised of the breach.” It then goes on at 7.0 to say that “The police were contacted regarding the meeting with the client in December and the threat made.” Quite clearly that is a referral. It is not saying and I did not say that a written complaint had been signed and laid. 
Andrew Little 
: Does she accept that the term “referral” means to hand over for consideration investigation or decision and that the term “contact” does not mean handing something over? And does she understand that the police report last Thursday stated that the matter was referred to them by way of a formal complaint on 19 March? 
Hon JUDITH COLLINS 
: No. 
Andrew Little 
: What information did she become aware of between 13 March and 19 March that saw the 1 December meeting change from being regarded as a privacy matter on 13 March to being a potential criminal matter justifying a police complaint on 19 March? 
Hon JUDITH COLLINS 
: I cannot answer that question because the referral was made by the Chief Executive of ACC. It was not referred to me and I was not party to any discussions with the police. 
Andrew Little 
: At what point did she become aware that what was originally thought of as a privacy matter was going to the police by way of a formal complaint as a potentially criminal matter? 
Hon JUDITH COLLINS 
: The best information I have is that after the matter was actually signed which was on Monday 19 March. The other information I have is quite clear in the report on 16 March from ACC which says: “The police were contacted regarding the meeting with the client in December and the threat made.” I do not think even Mr Little would not realise that when it says “threat made” that is clearly referring to a criminal matter; otherwise it would not have gone to the police. The privacy matter was actually referred to the Privacy Commissioner at 6.5 of the same report. 
Andrew Little 
: Is not the truth behind this whole affair that she wanted to cause maximum embarrassment to Michelle Boag which is why an unusual but otherwise innocent meeting was twisted into something criminal and a personal communication from Michelle Boag was leaked to the media from her office? 
Hon JUDITH COLLINS 
: No.