'I'm targeting you buddy, you're the government': Anthony Albanese takes aim at Peter Dutton as he blasts the AFP for 'waging war against the media' Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese faces off against Home Affairs Minister He accused Peter Dutton of waging a war against journalists following raids Mr Dutton accused Labor leader of smearing Australian Federal Police officers By Stephen Johnson For Daily Mail Australia Published: 00:18 BST, 7 June 2019 | Updated: 00:18 BST, 7 June 2019 Viewcomments Labor's new leader Anthony Albanese has accused Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton of waging a war against the media. The Opposition Leader and the cabinet minister in charge of national security faced off on the Today show, days after the Australian Federal Police raided the Canberra home of News Corp journalist Annika Smethurst and the ABC's Sydney newsroom. Their Friday morning TV segment became heated when Mr Dutton accused Mr Albanese of personally targeting individual AFP officers. Scroll down for video Labor's new leader Anthony Albanese (pictured) has accused Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton of waging a war against the media 'The Federal Police who have been criticised by people including Albo,' he said. 'I think it's quite unfair to target those officers individually.' Mr Albanese fired back, accusing Mr Dutton of disrespecting civil liberties. 'I'm targeting you, buddy. I'm targeting you. You're the government. You're the government,' he said. Mr Dutton, a former Queensland police detective, repeated his assertion that Mr Albanese had smeared individual AFP officers. 'I heard your words. You were criticising the individual police officers,' he said. Their Friday morning TV segment became heated when Mr Dutton (pictured) accused Mr Albanese of personally targeting individual AFP officers 'Even the police union has been horrified at the words you said.' Mr Albanese denied this. 'That's not true. I don't even know who that are, mate,' he said. 'I'm on to you, you're the government. 'It is outrageous that Annika Smethurst's house was raided by several police for seven-and-a-half hours. That's an outrage.' Ms Smethurst's Canberra home was raided on Tuesday - a year and one month after News Corp's Sunday newspapers published her story outlining how the Australian Signals Directorate, the nation's chief surveillance body, had possibly sought the power to spy on citizens. News Corp journalist Annikia Smethurst's Canberra home was raided on Tuesday - a year and one month after News Corp's Sunday newspapers published her story outlining how the Australian Signals Directorate had possibly sought the power to spy on citizens The AFP also raided the ABC's Sydney headquarters at Ultimo on Wednesday, searching for documents used to create a 2017 report alleging that Australian soldiers had committed war crimes in Afghanistan. Reporters Dan Oakes and Sam Clark and ABC news director Gaven Morris are accused of undermining national security. Mr Dutton and the AFP's Acting Commissioner Neil Gaughan have maintained ministers were not briefed on the raids beforehand. But Mr Albanese said Mr Dutton and his cabinet colleagues had some explaining to do. 'I am calling for the government to explain exactly what it knew about these circumstances,' he said. 'Let's strip it back here: do the public have a right to know if it is being considered that the government - government to government, two departments - are engaged in a debate to increase spying powers against Australian citizens?' The AFP raided the ABC's Sydney headquarters at Ultimo on Wednesday, searching for documents used to create a 2017 report alleging that Australian soldiers had committed war crimes in Afghanistan Share or comment on this article: All rights reserved for this news site dailymail and under his responsibility