ABC report on lost files was outdated and they knew it: AFP

A report on 400 lost national security files was based on detail the ABC knew was outdated and incomplete, the AFP says.

The federal police have criticised the ABC’s reporting about lost national security files.

The Australian Federal Police has rejected an ABC report claiming it lost 400 national security files in five years, saying the public broadcaster based the story on “incomplete and outdated documentation and knew they were doing so”.

The ABC reported yesterday that there was a “secret government stocktake” contained in the hundreds of cabinet documents it obtained revealing the 400 files had been lost.

“The classified documents lost by the AFP are from the powerful National Security Committee (NSC) of the cabinet, which controls the country’s security, intelligence and defence agenda,” the ABC reported.

“An email exchange between the cabinet secretariat and the AFP reveals the documents were lost between 2008 and 2013, while Labor was in government. The exchange does not reveal any investigation by either the secretariat or the AFP into how the documents were lost, who lost them, or where they might be now.”

The AFP today said the document the ABC obtained was “outdated” and reported out of context.

“A September 2013 audit of cabinet records by the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet identified a number of cabinet documents issued to the AFP were not located,” the police spokeswoman said.

“More than 90 per cent of these documents were subsequently located or confirmed to have been destroyed.

“Following the audit process to verify the appropriate destruction of the documents, a cross-check identified that 33 cabinet documents remained unaccounted for in the period between 2008-2013.

“These documents are presumed destroyed, but there is no official record to indicate that this destruction occurred. The AFP has no evidence to suggest that this process has resulted in a compromise to Australia’s national security and refutes any suggestion otherwise.”

The AFP said it provided the PM&C with an updated list of the documents that were subjected to the initial audit in October 2013.

“The AFP is disappointed the ABC based its story on incomplete and outdated documentation and knew they were doing so. The AFP is committed to being transparent and accountable, but expects the courtesy of more than two hours given by the ABC to investigate and conduct searches of its holdings on a historic matter, and thus provide an accurate response,” the spokeswoman said.

“The AFP accepts journalists work on tight deadlines, but it is clear this story has been developed by a team of journalists over a period of time. The AFP would have appreciated being extended the courtesy of more time to ensure an accurate response.”

The ABC said “sufficient time” was allowed for relevant agencies to provide their response before publication.

“The AFP has confirmed that a September 2013 audit of cabinet-related records by the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet identified that a number of cabinet-related documents issued to the AFP were not located. Our reporting refers to that period of time. The AFP stated that more than 90 per cent of these documents were subsequently located or confirmed to have been destroyed,” a spokeswoman said.