Biggles, I think you are referring to CAIR (Confidential Air Safety Incident Reports) which do not go to CASA, but ATSB. They may have sent a courtesy copy to CASA, though. It's a worry when these reports get "sprung", I found one I'd sent only to ATSB splashed all over the pages of the local paper once. Could be that they emailed it, and then didn't delete the email from the "sent" box, for someone else to find.
However I have yet to see any action taken or follow up whatsoever on any of the CAIRs I've sent in, in fact they have all been a complete waste of time; CASA would probably dismiss it as "anecdotal evidence" and ignore it, so I think the CP may have over reacted, anyway these sackings are disgraceful.