Mate I'm all for give as good as you get, stand on the neck and blow off the head, no sweat with me, let's not swing this into something it isn't, most of my Townsville mates are ex military.
Have to agree Hilly. Its sad that pollies send our lads to war then scrutinize every aspect from the holy air of Canberra. Still does not answer the original question though....
My first post is how I see the original question, I see it more as big brother putting down dissent, if some idiot gets info that is current activity and broadcasting it would compromise personal and put them in harm's way then yep the AFP should be on it but if it's old hat or shady policy that is under the scope then protect the source.
Think we used to call that common sence in the past......no idea what the new political fully inclusive non discriminatory LGBT word is
Me either, you find that island yet?
Just heard the warrant allows the AFP to not just access electronic documents, but allows them to 'copy, cut or alter' any documents - WTF?!
You missed the word "delete" as well!
A brave new world
Not sure what these dip shit journos think.
Agree with your comments and I'll add some of my thoughts...
"Freedom of information" doesn't exist when there are specific laws and offences prescribed around releasing, using and/or publishing the said "information".
Media play an important role in communicating issues of public interest but nobody, including journalists, are above the law. It doesn't matter what the public interest issue is. And the ABC is ignorant to think it can determine what public interest is and then do whatever it likes without consequence.
If the head of our defence force makes a complaint about the leaking of secret information which is alleged to be an offence, I'd expect police to investigate it. To not investigate it would be a bigger concern. Let the police do their job and if sufficient evidence of an offence is obtained, let the courts do their job.
The ABC is an ongoing embarrassment. The managing director's response to the police investigation was, "The ABC stands by its journalists, will protect its sources and continue to report without fear or favour on national security and intelligence issues when there is a clear public interest".
The ABC is a tax-payer funded government broadcaster which clearly has no regard for our laws. It is so left-biased and arrogant that it seems to believe that (its views on) public interest takes precedence over the law. Journalists have no exemption for the offences under investigation - even their editorial director and fuckwit presenter of Media Watch acknowledged this. Its conduct during and after the search warrant was pathetic. The alleged leak and recipient of the information knew what they were doing. The ABC has publicly criticised police for doing their job. They filmed and tweeted the search warrant. They mocked and questioned certain words and powers provided in the search warrant which are taken verbatim from the Crimes Act - without including full context of the words (or simply lacking an understanding). These words have been paraphrased in some posts above. And they tell us they will continue to do it (obtain and publish secret information) without fear.
Our tax is funding the ABC and will now be funding its lawyers and response to the police investigation.
On top of everything else the ABC has done, heads should roll and hopefully will. Given the government has just started its new term, there is potential for consequences but I doubt there is the spine for it.
