Pullar privacy breach report due today

A report into an ACC privacy breach involving controversial ACC claimant Bronwyn Pullar is due for release this afternoon.

The findings of KPMG auditors and former Australian Privacy Commissioner Malcolm Crompton will be a significant step in the unravelling of a curious scandal that has rocked the highest levels of government led to the exit of half the ACC board.

In early March, media revealed a major ACC privacy breach as thousands of client details were accidentally sent to an unnamed claimant – later identified as Bronwyn Pullar.

Details include nearly 250 clients from ACC’s sensitive claims unit.

Soon after, former ACC Minister Nick Smith resigned all cabinet portfolios over a conflict of interest when was revealed he supported Ms Pullar in her compensation claim case.

Replacement ACC minister Judith Collins then launched defamation action against Labour MPs Trevor Mallard and Andrew Little, accusing them of defaming her in comments about the leaking of an email sent to her by Ms Pullar’s support person Michelle Boag, which led to Ms Pullar’s identity being revealed in the media.

Ms Collins has denied she, or her office, was responsible for the leak.

The investigation behind today's report could have involved forensic investigations of computers over the leak of an email sent to Ms Collins about Ms Pullar by Michelle Boag.

Read more about the timeline of events that also included a police investigation and the resignation of ACC chairman John Judge, chief executive Ralph Stewart and three other directors here.

The boardroom cleanout at ACC has seen billions of dollars of government investment put at risk.

Ms Pullar, who had a curious connection to brutal love crime in the US, has also been in the spotlight for her attempt  to extract a $14 million payout from Sovereign Insurance.

The independent review of ACC privacy and security of information to be reported on this afternoon was commissioned by the ACC Board and the Office of the Privacy Commissioner, and conducted by KPMG.

It is expected today's reports will identify where the system failed in a number of areas and make recommendations to the Government.

Miss Collins is reported to have seen a draft of the Privacy Commissioner's report and says she "absolutely" agrees with its proposals.

Ms Collins’ role in the Bronwyn Pullar affair has, however, escaped investigation by the office of the Auditor-General.