Walkley Foundation chair and long-time presenter of the ABC's 7.30 program Kerry O'Brien says this week's Australian Federal Police (AFP) raids on the ABC and a News Corp journalist "go to the heart" of Australia's democracy.

Key points: Mr O'Brien says the "message being sent is that this will happen to you if you are about to become a whistleblower"

Mr O'Brien says the "message being sent is that this will happen to you if you are about to become a whistleblower" The ABC's managing director says he received support from organisations like the BBC and the New York Times

The ABC's managing director says he received support from organisations like the BBC and the New York Times The ABC and a News Corp journalist were both raided this week

Yesterday the AFP raided the ABC's Sydney headquarters a day after officers executed a search warrant at the home of News Corp journalist Annika Smethurst.

Speaking to Patricia Karvelas on ABC Radio Melbourne's Mornings program, Mr O'Brien said "people have to be really clear about what's at stake here".

"If they care about democracy, this does go to the heart of democracy and the democratic process," he said.

"You are talking about the media going about its job in providing scrutiny to areas of government where scrutiny is not easy.

"You are also talking about the role of whistleblowers, who are mostly well-motivated people who are disturbed about what they are seeing inside the Government in this case."

Mr O'Brien says the raids go to the heart of democracy. ( Peter Giafis: ABC News )

The AFP raided the ABC's headquarters over a series of 2017 stories known as the Afghan Files, which detailed incidents of troops killing unarmed men and children.

The officers took away two USB drives containing about 100 files.

It came one day after the AFP searched the home of Smethurst, who had reported on secret plans to allow government spying.

"The message being sent is that this will happen to you if you are about to become a whistleblower," Mr O'Brien said.

"The full force of the state will be brought against you if you expose these. This Government would appear to be very sensitive to public opinions."

ABC managing director David Anderson said he had received calls and emails of support from organisations like the BBC and The New York Times since the raid.

He said it was an indication of the importance of public interest journalism and its place in democracy.

"Statements have been issued from organisations around the world, I've had contact overnight from the DG of the BBC not only showing me his statement but personally offering his support for what's happening in Australia. This has global attention around it," he said.

"We will continue to vigorously defend our stories and our people. These issues go beyond the media industry. Freedom of the press is at the heart of our democracy and we must do everything we can to safeguard that freedom."

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Watch Duration: 35 seconds 35 s ABC managing director comments on AFP raid

The BBC said the raids against the ABC were a concerning attack on press freedom.

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In a statement on Twitter the broadcaster said "this police raid against our partners the ABC is an attack on press freedom which we at the BBC find deeply troubling".

"At a time when the media is becoming less free across the world, it is highly worrying if a public broadcaster is being targeted for doing its job of reporting in the public interest."

The New York Times published an article addressing the raids with the headline "Australia May Well Be the World's Most Secretive Democracy".

"No other developed democracy holds as tight to its secrets, experts say, and the raids are just the latest example of how far the country's conservative Government will go to scare officials and reporters into submission," the article says.

Reporters Without Borders has also urged Prime Minister Scott Morrison's Government to stop using national security as a pretext to harass investigative journalists.

Spokeswoman Rebecca Vincent said the targeting of the public broadcaster was disturbing.

"What is the real intention here? And if it is to make an example of these people, if it is to make potential whistleblowers nervous about talking to journalists, that is really worrying indeed," Ms Vincent said.

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Watch Duration: 46 seconds 46 s Scott Morrison distances the Government from AFP raids.

Mr Morrison defended the raids when he told journalists, "my Government is absolutely committed to freedom of the press".

"These are matters that were being pursued by the AFP operationally, at complete arm's length from the Government, not with the knowledge of the Government, not at the instigation of Government ministers," he said.

"These were matters that had been referred to the federal police some time ago, last year, preceding even my time as coming to be Prime Minister."

ABC/wires

