Federal Attorney General Christian Porter says he can understand the frustrations about the length of time an investigation into journalists at the national broadcaster and Nine network has taken.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
But he has told ABC television he is not privy to all elements of the investigation.
Police raids were conducted on the ABC's newsroom and the home of a News Corp reporter in June, raising concerns about press freedom among media outlets across the country.
"I can understand the frustrations ... these are matters that are investigated by the AFP at arm's length from government," he said.
"We have a great commitment to the freedom of the press. It's a bedrock cornerstone of our democracy.
But he said such freedoms need to balanced against other things, such as whether or not there is defamation or the protection of identity of witnesses or the ability to investigate criminal offences.
"We should always be mindful about whether or not that balance is perfect and whether or not it can be improved," he said.
Australian Associated Press