Home Affairs chief Mike Pezzullo congratulated AFP for raiding News Corp journo’s home

The Home Affairs chief reportedly called the AFP to commend them for raiding a journalist’s home.

The home of News Corp journalist Annika Smethurst was raided in June, and that reportedly earned a ‘well done’ from Home Affairs chief Mike Pezzullo.

Home Affairs chief Michael Pezzullo called Australian Federal Police deputy commissioner Neil Gaughan to commend him on the raid of News Corp Australia journalist Annika Smethurst’s home, according to the ABC.

Mr Gaughan told staff in an email about the phone call, which he received on the evening of the raid on Smethurst’s home in Canberra, which took place on the morning of June 4, according to documents obtained under Freedom of Information by South Australian senator Rex Patrick.

Mr Gaughan thanked staff for their “good work” in an email, and told them that Mr Pezzullo was “fully supportive of the actions of the AFP”. He also revealed that Mr Pezzullo asked him to pass on his thanks to the team involved.

“Well done — tomorrow is another day,” Mr Gaughan said in the email to staff.

AFP officers raided the ABC’s Sydney headquarters on June 5 to search for documents relating to reports called The Afghan Files, investigating alleged unlawfu­l killings by Australian special forces in Afghanistan.

The media industry has strongly condemned the AFP raids and demanded further protection for journalists.

Top media bosses from News Corp Australia, Nine Entertainment and the ABC have urged the government to overhaul laws relating to national security, defamation, the issuing of warrants and changes to freedom of information legislation, in order to protect whistleblowers and journalists from police prosecutions.

Mr Patrick has questioned the judgment of Mr Pezzullo, who has been the Secretary of the Department of Immigration and Border Protection since October 2014.

“The contents of the released documents confirm a lack of judgment at the highest levels of Home Affairs where national strategy and security policy is set,” Senator Patrick told the ABC.

Mr Pezzullo has confirmed the phone call to Mr Gaughan, according to the ABC.