Australia’s biggest health insurer Medibank decided not to phone victims whose most personal health data was published on the dark web because of “privacy considerations”, its chief executive David Koczkar has said on the sidelines of an emotionally charged annual meeting.

The board’s remuneration was waved through easily, with Mr Koczkar getting $3.76 million, which included a $1.64 million pay increase. The proxies had been directed in favour before it had become clear that the breach had hit 9.7 million Australians.