AFP media raids: defence agencies refuse to say if minister was told before leaks referred to police

Defence department says ‘inappropriate’ to say whether Marise Payne was consulted first

Defence agencies are refusing to say whether they consulted with the then defence minister Marise Payne before referring leaks of classified information to the Australian federal police.

The AFP has confirmed that it began its investigations into the ABC’s report of alleged unlawful killings by Australian troops in Afghanistan and Annika Smethurst’s report of plans to extend spy powers after it received referrals from agency heads in July 2017 and August 2018 respectively.

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from World news | The Guardian http://bit.ly/2F1YXuL