Secret Oz files found in second- hand shop

Melbourne, Jan. 31: Finding and exposing classified government information is a traditionally dangerous occupation — whistleblowers have risked their livelihoods and liberty to bring government secrets into the light, while news organisations have been threatened and chastised, reported the Guardian on Wednesday.

But Australian journalists may have found a simpler way — scouring secondhand shops.

In a massive and highly embarrassing breach of national security, hundreds of top secret cabinet documents have been obtained by the Australian broadcaster ABC after being found in two locked filing cabinets in a secondhand furniture store.

The Cabinet Files, as the documents have been aptly named, were found in the two filing cabinets sold at an ex- government sale in Canberra - and were bought for “small change” because the keys to unlock them could not be found.

According to the ABC reporters Ashlynne McGhee and Michael McKinnon the filing cabinets had “sat unopened for some months until the locks were attacked with a drill”. The documents, which show the inner workings of five separate governments, should have remained sealed for 20 years. While Australians have been amused by the manner in which the documents came to light, government officials are furious at the leak. On Wednesday, the department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet announced an urgent investigation.

Almost all of the files are classified, some as “top secret” or “AUSTEO”, which means they are to be seen by Australian eyes only.