The incident was another sign that it had become “normal practice” for the federal police and law enforcement agencies in Australia to target journalists and whistle-blowers, he added.
“We need urgent action from government to protect the right to know,” Mr. Murphy added.
In a rare instance of unity, media executives from the country’s biggest news organizations have called for reforms to protect press freedom after two police raids last month — one on the home of a News Corp. journalist and another at the headquarters of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
The journalist whose travel records were obtained, Daniel Oakes, was part of an ABC team that published “The Afghan Files,” a 2017 article based on leaked military documents that described potential war crimes by Australian armed forces in Afghanistan.
Last year, the government passed sweeping legislation that included harsher penalties for leaking classified or secret information. The law made it illegal for government officials to disclose such information and in some cases, for journalists to receive it. The alleged whistle-blower behind the “Afghan Files” documents, a former military lawyer, has already identified himself and is facing charges.
A spokeswoman for the federal police declined to comment Monday on the seizure of the travel records, saying the investigation is continuing.
Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/08/world/australia/police-qantas-journalism.html?emc=rss&partner=rss
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