CPA voices concern over member data

Ahead CPA Australia’s annual general meeting in Singapore last week, NSW-based member Brett Stevenson requested and received a copy of the association’s register of members, which included contact details but not email addresses.

The disgruntled member, who is leading a rebellion against the association, said he intends to contact members to discuss issues related to their membership with CPA Australia.

While Mr Stevenson is entitled to request the register under the Corporations Act, CPA Australia released a statement yesterday telling members of its concern about the “unsolicited contact.”

“We are now concerned about the security of your information,” the statement said, noting that Mr Stevenson plans to get in touch with members outside of his current mailing list of approximately 1,000.

Since releasing the register, CPA Australia has notified the Australian Privacy Commissioner and ASIC that Mr Stevenson has received the contact details of its members.

In response to the statement, Mr Stephenson said it is “little wonder members are not prepared to speak out about the elephants in the room”.

“Let me respond [with] profound disgrace that we have a board of CPA Australia that would put their seal of approval to such a letter,” he said.