Peak legal body renews press freedom call

Australia's peak legal body remains concerned about press freedom following the High Court's decision to overturn a police search warrant for a journalist's home.

While the Law Council has welcomed the ruling, the group is concerned the court did not to consider the broader issue of implied freedom of political communication.

The issue remains a grey area in Australia, prompting lawyers to call for law reform to protect public interest journalism and ensure greater accountability.

"Protections might include contested hearings, the involvement of a Public Interest Advocate to test the warrant process and a requirement that warrants may only be issued by a judge of a superior court of record," Law Council President Pauline Wright said on Thursday.

"Australia's media is critical to holding government and its agencies accountable for their actions and scrutinising the exercise of power."

Free TV, meanwhile, says the decision makes it clear Australia's current laws don't protect public interest journalism.

"The High Court's decision only emphasises the need for a contestable warrant scheme for raids on journalists and media companies."

News Corp Australia reporter Annika Smethurst's Canberra apartment was raided in 2019 over stories she wrote revealing secret plans to expand the government's spying powers.

The full bench of the High Court on Wednesday found the search warrant was not drafted precisely enough and should be quashed.

But police will hold onto the data taken during the search after the judges were torn on whether the Australian Federal Police should have to destroy material seized.

AFP Commissioner Reece Kershaw said the force would seek legal advice on what to do with the data.