The High Court has ruled invalid a warrant used by Australian Federal Police (AFP) to raid the home of journalist Annika Smethurst.
The News Corp correspondent had been writing articles about proposals that the Australian Signals Directorate, an intelligence agency, be used to monitor the activities of Australians.
At the time, News Corp described the raid as a "dangerous act of intimidation towards those committed to telling uncomfortable truths".
The High Court, in finding the warrant failed to specify the offence under investigation, has now ruled that the AFP pay the costs of Smethurst and her employer, News Corp.
Data from Smethurst's mobile phone was copied by police on to a USB and News Corp says it is concerned the court did not rule that the AFP cannot look at the material it collected under the warrant.
Michael Miller, News Corp Australasia executive chairman, says the court ruling sends an indisputable message that the Federal Police must obey the law and that their raid on Annika Smethurst's home was illegal.
"All Australians should be extremely concerned that a journalist's home can be raided illegally," he says.
"It's now vital that the federal fovernment must allow media organisations to contest warrants against journalists to avoid debacles like this one occurring again.
"Annika Smethurst should not be prosecuted for simply doing her job as a journalist to rightly inform Australians on serious matters of public interest.
"It's time for the federal government to bring this sorry mess to a prompt end. It's time to end Annika's ordeal."
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