Australian government considers the importance of freedom of the press before the investigation.

There is a suspicion that confidential information about the military has been leaked in Australia, and the public government ABC over the problem that the police were searched, the Australian government told the police the importance of freedom of the press before conducting the investigation We issued instructions to consider it.

The Australian public broadcaster ABC has reportedly reported that Australian soldiers dispatched to Afghanistan have been killing civilians based on confidential documents from the Department of Defense.

In June, the federal police searched the ABC headquarters for allegedly leaking information, and the ABC side filed a lawsuit seeking to invalidate the search warrant.

In this connection, Dutton, who has jurisdiction over the Federal Police, issued an order to the Federal Police on the 9th.

The instructions require that when investigating reporters and the press for leaks of confidential information, consider the importance of freedom of the press and the wider public interest before conducting the investigation.

The reporter and the press should also try to cooperate with the investigation on a voluntary basis, and they are urging them to avoid forced investigation as much as possible.

Although the instructions do not limit the investigation, the Australian government emphasizes the position that freedom of the press should be protected.