Mathias Cormann open to press freedom inquiry

Finance Minister Mathias Cormann has said he is open to launching an inquiry into press freedom, after the ABC and News Corp were raided by Australian Federal Police.

Finance Minister Mathias Cormann has opened the door to launching an inquiry into press freedom, following back-to-back police raids on two media outlets.

The Sydney headquarters of the ABC and the Canberra home of a News Corp journalist were raided last week, over separate stories based on leaked classified information.

Following widespread condemnation of the raids, the federal government is now under immense pressure to demonstrate that it supports the freedom of the press.

“There are obviously a range of issues to be considered here and we’ll make statements in relation to this later in the week,” Senator Cormann told reporters in Perth on Monday.

The AFP has also faced scrutiny after dropping an investigation into a third national security leak that benefited the federal government.

Former Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce says politicians should be investigated for leaking classified information.

Raid journo: What really happened when AFP knocked on my door

Annika Smethurst raid was more than an invasion of privacy

Senator Mathias Cormann at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture Kym Smith

“If any politician — if anybody — is delivering documents that were for Australian eyes only then they should be held to extent of the law,” Mr Joyce told the Seven Network.

“They (the public) don’t like the idea that documents end up in the public sphere, someone has done it, and they’ve got to be held to account. “If you’re going to have laws, you’ve got to comply with them, and nobody is exempt.”

The ABC was raided over stories in 2017 about allegations Australian soldiers may have carried out unlawful killings in Afghanistan, based on leaked Defence papers.

The warrant executed on Annika Smethurst’s home was over the 2018 publication of a leaked plan to allow the Australian Signals Directorate to spy on Australians.

The AFP’s twin raids preceded it abandoning an investigation into the leaking of a classified briefing about the so-called medevac bill, which changed the rules around asylum seeker medical transfers.

Ita Buttrose at the ABC offices in Sydney. Picture: AAP

ABC chair Ita Buttrose is also set to meet with Prime Minister Scott Morrison as the public broadcaster considers taking legal action over the raid.

Asked if the ABC planned legal action Ms Buttrose said the broadcaster had consulted lawyers about its option but hadn’t “briefed anybody yet”.

“At this point, we’re really assessing the allegations to see what actions can be taken and we want to make sure that we’re in the strongest available position to defend ourselves and also our journalists,” she said on Monday.

Several AFP officers arrived at the Canberra house of award-winning political editor Annika Smethurst this week with a search warrant and spent several hours inside rifling through her personal items. Picture Gary Ramage

During a search, AFP officers took possession of about 100 documents, on national security grounds. The contents were transferred to USB sticks and placed in sealed bags.

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.

President of the Victorian Bar Council, Matthew Collins QC, confirmed to AAP he had been retained by the ABC but could not comment further.

Ms Buttrose said she would meet with Mr Morrison this week.

“I’m not going to tell the prime minister what to do but I will tell him how we feel at the ABC and how I feel,” she said.

Acting AFP Commissioner Neil Gaughan speaks to the media in Canberra, Australia. Picture: Getty

Ms Buttrose warned last week that two separate raids related to two media outfits on consecutive days was a “blunt signal of adverse consequences for news organisations who make life uncomfortable for policymakers and regulators by shining lights in dark corners and holding the powerful to account”.

A protest rally in support of the ABC will be held on Tuesday outside Mr Fletcher’s electorate office in Lindfield, in his seat of Bradfield, on the upper North Shore.

Labor leader Anthony Albanese says his party will examine suggestions for protecting press freedom, but has stressed he is limited in how he can grapple with the issue from opposition.

Centre Alliance Senator Rex Patrick is pushing for Australia to protect freedom of expression, including press freedom, in its constitution.

He argues the step, which would require a referendum, is necessary to deal with inconsistencies between existing laws.

Originally published as Mathias Cormann open to press freedom inquiry