ABC chair Ita Buttrose meets PM Scott Morrison over AFP raids
Ita Buttrose will meet with Prime Minister Scott Morrison today as protesters prepare to rally outside the Communication Minister’s office over Australian Federal Police raids on media.
Media
Don't miss out on the headlines from Media. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Scott Morrison is resisting calls to boost legal protections for journalists and whistleblowers after Australian Federal Police raids on media.
Ahead of a meeting with ABC chair Ita Buttrose today, the Prime Minister said he would “listen carefully” to concerns about press freedoms and was “open” to strengthening legal protections.
But he added: “I think we have to keep these matters in perspective.”
“I intend to proceed calmly and soberly and consultatively,” Mr Morrison said today.
“If there is a suggestion or evidence or any analysis that reveals there is need for further improvement of those laws, then the government is always open to that.”
Raid journo: What really happened when AFP knocked on my door
Annika Smethurst raid was more than an invasion of privacy
Mr Morrison also doubled down on his stance that Australia needed to balance the issue of national security and press freedoms.
The Prime Minister also downplayed his meeting with Ms Buttrose today, saying their meeting had been scheduled before “more recent events”.
“I’m sure that Ita and I will have a broad ranging conversation about what she’s been doing since taking on the role of chair of the ABC,” he said.
“I was absolutely thrilled that Ita took up my invitation to chair the ABC.
“One of the reasons I asked her to do that job is because she will speak frankly and candidly and that she will lead strongly.
“I look forward to our regular conversations”.
Ms Buttrose will meet with Mr Morrison this afternoon about the raid, which came just a day after the AFP raided the home of senior News Corp journalist Annika Smethurst.
It comes as the ABC prepares to take legal action to seek the return of information taken in last week’s raids.
The raids related to ABC stories from 2017 alleging Australian soldiers may have carried out unlawful killings in Afghanistan and Smethurst’s report about high-level Defence and Home Affairs talks on new powers to allow the Australian Signals Directorate to spy on Australian citizens.
Labor leader Anthony Albanese today welcomed Mr Morrison meeting with the ABC chair, saying: “It’s good that he now acknowledges that there is an issue.”
“I think freedom of the press is an essential component of our democracy,” Mr Albanese told reporters in Perth.
“I think it’s good that Ita Buttrose, as the chairperson of the ABC, has spoken out so strongly
and I think it’s good that Prime Minister Scott Morrison is meeting with Ita Buttrose.
“It stands in contrast to his dismissal of ‘nothing to see here’ when these issues were first raised with him.”
Ms Buttrose last week complained to Communications Minister Paul Fletcher about the “unprecedented” AFP raid which was “clearly designed to intimidate”.
“It is impossible to ignore the seismic nature of this week’s events,” Ms Buttrose said in a statement at the time.
“Raids on two separate media outfits on consecutive days is a blunt signal of adverse consequences for news organisations who make life uncomfortable for policy makers and regulators by shining lights in dark corners and holding the powerful to account.”
The ABC has two weeks to appeal the warrant and seek the return of the documents.
But if an appeal is unsuccessful or does not go ahead the AFP would be allowed to examine the documents.
The ABC has reportedly retained barrister Matt Collins QC as it prepares to mount a legal challenge.
News Corp is also calling for the government to overhaul flawed laws which allow journalists to be charged for refusing to give up their sources to police.
Finance Minister Mathias Cormann would not be drawn today on whether the government would launch an inquiry into the raids but acknowledged there were “issues to be considered”.
“We recognise that press freedom, freedom of the press, is a very important feature of our democratic system,” Senator Cormann told ABC radio.
“There are issues to be considered. We are open to the discussion. What form that will take, that is yet to be determined.”
Senator Cormann rejected any suggestion the AFP raids were “political interference”.
He said the AFP acted independently from the government “as they should and as they must”.
A protest rally for press freedom will be held today outside the communication minister’s electorate office.
Originally published as ABC chair Ita Buttrose meets PM Scott Morrison over AFP raids
New 7 anchor named after brutal sacking
Channel 7 has appointed a new co-anchor months after the abrupt sacking of Sharyn Ghidella who worked for the network for 17 years.
‘Do better’: ABC sorry after racism review
An investigation into racism at the ABC found current and former staff experienced racial slurs, exclusion and being mistaken for other people of the same race.