AFP responds to claims in ABC report national security files were ‘lost’

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) has disrupted reports in the ABC’s Cabinet files leak that the federal law enforcement agency lost 400 national security files.

In a statement released this afternoon, the AFP says the reporting was “wrong” and without context.

“The AFP is disappointed the ABC based its story on incomplete and outdated documentation and knew they were doing so,” the statement read.

It was reported the AFP lost the files, according to a secret government stocktake.

But the AFP disputes the claim, saying 90 per cent were found or had already been destroyed.

Earlier today, former prime minister Kevin Rudd confirmed he had launched legal action against the ABC after it published details of a secret cabinet document related to his Labor government’s home insulation scheme.

Overnight ASIO secured thousands of sensitive documents at ABC offices in Canberra and Brisbane after they were found in a filing cabinet bought from a second-hand store.

Officers entered ABC bureaus at Parliament House and in Brisbane, to secure the documents which detail five federal government cabinet meetings over a decade.

Channel 9’s political editor Chris Uhlmann told Neil Mitchell the story was unbelievable and “astonishing”.

“It’s embarrassing on a lot of fronts,” he said.

Click PLAY to hear the full explanation with Channel 9’s Chris Uhlman on 3AW Mornings