"We need the government to show active leadership and intellectual credibility on the issue of press freedom, rather than defer to rhetoric and contradictions." Loading As pressure grows for the government to veto any possible charges against News Corp correspondent Annika Smethurst and ABC reporters Daniel Oakes and Sam Clark, the Attorney-General moved to distance himself from previous claims that the Australian Federal Police (AFP) were not investigating the trio. Asked whether he stood by previous assurances that there was "absolutely no suggestion" the journalists were being targeted, Mr Porter on Friday said he made the statements based on the "limited information that had been provided to me". "Operational investigations are obviously conducted by the AFP completely independently of government, and information about them which may be provided to a responsible minister ... comes from the Department of Home Affairs and the AFP," he said.

"These are laws that go back decades in Western democracies like ours where, if you've got top-secret documents and they've been leaked, it is an offence under the law and police have an obligation to investigate a matter referred to them ... and they'll do that." Loading Section 7 of the Crimes Act notes that any person who receives or communicates a secret document without permission has committed an indictable offence and faces up to seven years' prison. Legislation governing the AFP prevents Mr Dutton from ordering the agency to drop an investigation, however, media chiefs and some Coalition MPs want the government to defuse the situation by publicly declaring it would never authorise the prosecution of Smethurst, Oakes and Clark. Mr Porter's approval would be needed to launch a prosecution and he has previously said he is "seriously disinclined" to give it.

Mr Miller said Mr Dutton's comments made him more determined to ensure the government changed federal laws to better protect press freedom. "Our journalist, Annika Smethurst, revealed plans for our national surveillance department to spy on its citizens for the first time. The public has a right to know that information," he said. News Corp Australia executive chairman Michael Miller wants an assurance his reporter won't be prosecuted. Credit:Daniel Munoz "Yet Mr Dutton is using laws more than 100 years old to prosecute and intimidate Annika and all journalists who seek to ensure the Australian public's right to know. "This is an invasion of the open society we hold close and dear."