Loading It came a day after police raided the home of News Corp journalist Annika Smethurst over a report on a top secret government proposal to give Australia's cyber spies unprecedented powers. The raids attracted international attention, with the UK BBC calling it "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 broadcaster said in a statement. Morrison said it was only for the federal police to make decisions about how their investigations should proceed.

Loading "It would be entirely inappropriate for the government of the day to be interfering in those," he said. "This is not a matter that has been directed or in any way involves government ministers and it would be inappropriate if it did. "It was not referred by government ministers or at their direction; it was referred by departmental secretaries. “And that is the process that departmental secretaries follow where they believe that there have been potential breaches [of the law].

“And for government ministers to be placed in the middle of that I think would be very troubling and that is what has not occurred here.” He said Australia was a “free country and that freedom was hard won… but part of that freedom ensures that we all operate according to the rule of law”. Asked if the laws being enforced should be changed, Morrison said it would be premature to draw any conclusions but he was “open to having discussions about concerns that have been raised and we would consider that”. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video “If there are issues regarding particular laws then they will be raised in the normal way that they should be in a democracy, and they are matters that I am always open to discuss as any prime minister would be.”

Morrison took the opportunity of his visit to Portsmouth to hold brief meetings with departing UK Prime Minister Theresa May and French President Emmanuel Macron. He said he had discussed aid programs in the Pacific with both leaders, and the French-Australian submarine building project with Macron which he said was “on track”. Morrison said he exchanged “a few remarks” with US President Donald Trump - "friendly remarks as you do" - but had not raised the issue of the China-US tariff war. Prime Minister Scott Morrison speaks to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (centre) and French President Emmanuel Macron (right) in Portsmouth. Credit:Adam Taylor/Prime Minister's Office He said he had told May, who is stepping down as party leader on Friday to make way for a successor who will be chosen over the next month, that “she is always welcome in Australia” and he wished her all the best in her future.