On Thursday morning, the Australian Federal Police conducted a search of the Department of Home Affairs Headquarters, after confirming that it received a referral, from the Department itself, regarding the unauthorised disclosure of information (or as the media have been describing them as departmental leaks).
It is understood that the leaks in question concerned the alleged ministerial intervention in the case of two foreign au pairs by Minister for Home Affairs, the Hon Peter Dutton MP. It has been established that the AFP was searching personal devices and a workplace in relation to the leaks, although it is unknown what documentation was seized during the raid.
Labor has attempted to claim parliamentary privilege over any material seized which was relevant to the Senate inquiry into the matter.
“I will ask for my claim of privilege to be dealt with by the Senate. Parliamentary privilege is an incredibly important principle that enables the parliament to hold the government to account, and it must be respected,” said Chair of the inquiry, Senator Louise Pratt.
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