Democracy at stake
Worry goes beyond AFP raids on media
THE laws that could allow the Australian Federal Police to jail journalists were last night condemned as a “danger to our democracy”.
Following successive raids on News Corp and the ABC, Acting AFP commissioner Neil Gaughan yesterday said he would not rule in or rule out anyone being “subject to further charges”.
Michael Miller, executive chairman of News Corp Australasia, publisher of The Daily Telegraph and the Bulletin, had concerns beyond the raids.
“The issue is not just these recent raids but the growing number of laws with the power to put journalists in jail,” he said.
“It is a danger to our democracy when professional news reporting is at risk of being criminalised.
“The times we live in demand greater examination of issues that affect all Australians, not less. We stand by both our reporting and Australia’s right to know.”
Seven AFP officers searched Sunday Telegraph political editor Annika Smethurst’s Canberra home on Tuesday for material linked to a leaked story about a plan to spy on Australians.
The following day six officers, including four digital experts from the same team, served a warrant on the ABC to search for leaked material relating to a story on the killing of civilians by Australian Special Forces in Afghanistan.
Mr Gaughan said: “The investigation is complex and ongoing. Potentially we may do more search warrants.”
He took pains to stress “in the strongest possible terms” neither the Government nor any minister had directed the investigations.
Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton and Prime Minister Scott Morrison both tried to distance themselves from the raids yesterday.
Mr Morrison said the two raids “were being pursued by the AFP operationally at complete arm’s length from the Government”.