Police raid journalist Philip Dorling's home after spy story | NEWS.com.au
AUSTRALIAN Federal Police have raided the home of the Canberra Times journalist Philip Dorling this morning, with more than half a dozen officers still searching his property.
It is understood the execution of the search warrant follows a story Dorling wrote for the newspaper on June 14 in which he said Australian spies were targeting key nations, including Japan, China and North and South Korea.
The journalist cited his source as “classified briefing papers” prepared for Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon.
Dorling told The Australian Online this morning the search warrant was very broad and it was "not a pleasant experience".
"They've searched the ceiling, they've searched from one end of the house to the other. I would say the terms of the search warrant are very broad,” he said.
"They're looking for stuff related to the Defence Intelligence Organisation and whether it relates to possible offences under the Crimes Act.
"They turned up at 8:30am, that's seven AFP officers and another one arrived later in respect to a story I wrote for the Canberra Times on June 14.”
The AFP has confirmed today that it "executed a search warrant at Braddon and on a vehicle."
The raid was continuing and police would not provide any further information, citing “operational” matters.
Fairfax said the raid cut to the heart of the operation of a free press.
"Fairfax Media is gravely concerned by this legal assault on one of our journalists for doing his job," director of corporate affairs Bruce Wolpe said.
"A federal police raid on the home of a journalist cuts to the heart of the operation of a free press, and is unacceptable."
Fairfax would renew its calls for so-called shield laws, which would protect journalists from prosecution because of politically damaging stories, to be introduced to parliament, Mr Wolpe said.
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