It 's a pivotal policy for the Federal Government but questions are being asked of the Prime Minister 's understanding , or lack thereof , around metadata after his bizarre claim that he never worried about police looking into his , when he was a journalist . The problem with his attempt to allay fears of the modern day media is that metadata was hardly a player when Tony Abbott was reporting in the 1980s and early 90s , before the advent of the Internet . 'In the days when I was a journalist there were no metadata protections for journalists , ' he stated to a gathering of reporters on Wednesday . But if you do the math , his argument simply does not stack up . I was perfectly comfortable as a journalist , I believe that Australian police and security agencies operate in a fair and reasonable and responsible manner , ' the Prime Minister said . His writing career ended before the internet began . While metadata does include some traditional methods of investigation ; including phone numbers and length and time of calls , the overhaul 's main thrust is aimed at computer based functions , particularly the online and email world . The Internet came to be , effectively , in 1992 . Full text searches were not available for two years after that and email access came to being about the same time . By then , Tony Abbott was well and truly ensconced as press secretary to Opposition Leader Dr John Hewson , his days as a writer for The Bulletin and The Australian all but over . ' I was perfectly comfortable as a journalist , I believe that Australian police and security agencies operate in a fair and reasonable and responsible manner , ' the Prime Minister said . ' A contested warrant is more like a court case and if you had to have a court case to access metadata , well , the whole process would absolutely gum up , ' he said . In trying to explain the planned two-year retention , Mr Abbott has previously stated that he believed metadata to be the 'sites you 're visiting ' . 'It 's not what you are doing on the internet , it 's the site 's you are visiting , it 's not the content it 's just where you have been . 'It 's the person you are sending it to , the person sending it , it 's the date and the place it 's posted from . ' Federal Labor had earlier agreed to support new metadata laws with amendments . The government bill , which is expected to pass parliament by the end of next week , forces telecommunications companies to keep two years of customer data , such as the time and length of a phone call . The laws would allow for warrant-less access by government agencies . The government has agreed to a number of Labor amendments , including better protections for journalists . Australian Press Council chairman David Weisbrot , has expressed his concern the laws could crush investigative journalism and dissuade whistle-blowers from coming forward . ' A healthy democratic society requires robust free speech and a free and vigorous press to hold governments and other powerful interests to account , ' he said . ' I was perfectly comfortable as a journalist , I believe that Australian police and security agencies operate in a fair and reasonable and responsible manner , ' the Prime Minister told the Canberra media gallery . Metadata is the footprint left by electronic communications . The worry for journalists is that sources might be hesitant to come forward knowing that metadata could lead investigators to their door . 'These are not hypothetical concerns , ' Professor Weisbrot said . He said governments were increasingly chasing down leaks and stripping away whistle-blower protections . 'These legitimate concerns can not be addressed effectively short of exempting journalists and media organisations . ' Attorney-General George Brandis had previously said that in a 'newly dangerous age ' it was vital that those protecting Australia were equipped with the powers and capabilities they needed . A parliamentary committee recommended in February the laws be passed , but called for safeguards for journalists . It recommended the issue of protecting journalists ' sources be referred to a separate inquiry to report to parliament within three months . Attorney-General George Brandis had previously said that in a 'newly dangerous age ' it was vital that those protecting Australia were equipped with the powers and capabilities they needed . The government wants the regime legislated this month .
Prime Minister says journalists should not hold any fear of the new metadata laws giving up sources . Tony Abbott said police accessing his metadata when he was a journalist in the 80s and early 90s was never a problem . The Internet and email did not come to be until 1992 - just as Tony Abbott 's reporting career was coming to a close . The government 's proposed laws focus heavily on the retention of users ' computer footprints .