Anti-leak spy laws will only target 'reckless' journalists: Attorney-General's office

By Ben Grubb
Updated August 19 2014 - 3:13am, first published 12:15am
David Irvine, Director General of Intelligence and Security at ASIO. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen
David Irvine, Director General of Intelligence and Security at ASIO. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen
George Brandis says new national security laws won't target journalists but his department says they will if the journalists are "reckless". Photo: Andrew Meares
George Brandis says new national security laws won't target journalists but his department says they will if the journalists are "reckless". Photo: Andrew Meares
Prime Minister Tony Abbott has previously urged journalists not to report on national security matters that could endanger the country.
 Photo: Penny Stephens
Prime Minister Tony Abbott has previously urged journalists not to report on national security matters that could endanger the country. Photo: Penny Stephens

Only "reckless" reporting by journalists would be subject to new national security reforms that would jail those who disclose information about so-called "special intelligence operations" conducted by Australian spy agencies, the Attorney-General's Department says.

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