ABC’s Ita Buttrose and David Anderson discuss AFP raids with PM Scott Morrison and Paul Fletcher

ABC chair Ita Buttrose and MD David Anderson have raised concerns about the AFP raids in talks with the PM.

ABC chairwoman Ita Buttrose and managing director David Anderson have raised their concerns about the unprecedented police raid on its Sydney headquarters with Prime Minister Scott Morrison and new Communications Minister Paul Fletcher.

The implications for media freedom were also raised during the discussions.

The pair also discussed staff and audience challenges facing the public broadcaster, with Mr Morrison and Mr Fletcher agreeing to keep discussing its longer term “financial security”.

In a brief statement, ABC said the widely-publicised meeting, which was organised before last week’s raid, was “very productive” this afternoon.

“The ABC looks forward to working constructively with other media companies to pinpoint areas of concern and to pursue the case for legislative review.

“The ABC also discussed resourcing and audience challenges facing the Corporation and the prime minister and the minister indicated a willingness to continue a dialogue about longer term financial security,” the ABC statement said.

Mr Morrison’s office has declined to comment on the meeting.

Mr Morrison was abroad when the AFP raided the ABC on June 5 over its 2017 series The Afghan Files. The search warrant named journalists Dan Oakes and Sam Clark, and long-serving news director Gaven Morris.

The move came less than 24 hours after AFP officers raided the home of senior News Corp press gallery reporter, Annika Smethurst, over her reporting last year of a secret plan that would have allowed Australia to spy on its citizens for the first time.

The two raids have been widely condemned by the media industry, including Ms Buttrose, Mr Anderson and News Corp Australasia executive chairman Michael Miller, with warnings it raises serious concerns for press freedom.

Ms Buttrose last week said the raid on the ABC was “designed to intimidate” and said she would fight for freedom of the press and the public broadcaster’s independence.