Ben Fordham is facing raids by the Australian Federal Police after he ran a story which revealed confidential Home Affairs information.

Today News Corp journalist Annika Smethurst’s home was raided by the AFP after she reported a story about a secret government plan to spy on Australians.

Ben yesterday revealed a senior source in Home Affairs told him up to six boats could have recently attempted journeys to Australia from Sri Lanka.

Shortly after revealing the information on-air, his producer received a call from the Department of Home Affairs.

The official said an investigation would commence as a result of an “unauthorized disclosure” of information and Ben was asked to assist in the investigation.

Home Affairs has told Ben the person who passed on the confidential information is the target, not Ben himself.

Ben says he will not be revealing his source under any circumstances.

“Annika Smethurst from News Corp raided today, and time will tell if I’ll be next.

“There’s not a hope in hell of that happening.. under no circumstance will I be revealing my sources on this story or any story.

“I work in a business that’s based on freedom of the press and shining a torch in areas where there are shadow and it’s not fair to the people who assist me in my work to give them up the moment the AFP comes knocking.”

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Mark Latham tells Ben the AFP should be focusing on the person who leaked the information.

“The free press is one of the pillars of our democracy.

“It’s pretty heavy-handed, I think, to have the home of a journalist raided.”

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