A parliamentary inquiry into press freedoms in Australia could be on the cards after federal cabinet ministers reportedly agreed to the proposal.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison will discuss the proposal when he meets with Labor leader Anthony Albanese on Wednesday, The Australian reports.
The inquiry would consider the impact of police and intelligence powers on the media, and be conducted by the bipartisan Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security.
The move comes after the federal police raided a journalist's home and the ABC's headquarters.
The Morrison government's proposal would also look at the necessary thresholds for when police should follow up leaks to journalists.
Labor has also decided to push for a parliamentary committee to examine press freedom in Australia.
Opposition home affairs spokeswoman Kristina Keneally will move a motion on Thursday to establish the Joint Select Committee into the Public's Right to Know and Press Freedom.
An inquiry would look at disclosure and public reporting of sensitive and classified information.
The nation's whistleblower protection regime and protections for public sector employees would also come under scrutiny, along with how the government refers leaks to authorities.
The independence of the Australian Federal Police in dealing with politically-sensitive matters is included in the terms.
The Canberra home of News Corp journalist Annika Smethurst was raided last month over the 2018 publication of a leaked proposal to allow the Australian Signals Directorate to spy on Australians.
The ABC is challenging the warrant used by the AFP to raid its headquarters Source: Twitter
The following day, the ABC's Sydney headquarters were raided over stories published in 2017 alleging Australian soldiers may have carried out unlawful killings in Afghanistan, based on leaked Defence papers.
Senator Keneally said the events of the past month raised questions about press freedom under the Morrison government.
"There is a culture of secrecy and perverting the public's right to know that has been making its way through this government for too long, and it's time to call it out," she said.
She called on Mr Morrison to back the new committee ahead of Thursday's Senate vote.
"Scott Morrison and his government have failed to take their responsibilities seriously, to show leadership, and to take swift action to address the concerns of the Australian community and media organisations," Senator Keneally said.
