At 9.18AM this morning I phoned Anthony Albanese's mobile phone and left a comprehensive message informing him as to the content of the story I'd proposed to run about him.

I offered Mr Albanese the opportunity to discuss the story and any concerns as to accuracy he had about it either on or off the record.

At 9.38AM I had a missed call on my mobile from Anthony Albanese's mobile with no message left for me.   I phoned him back at 9:38, 9:39, 9:40 and 9:43.

At 10.53AM I sent the Minister this text

"Noticed missed call from you, I have a story ready to publish, would you like to read a copy first?  Would very much like to show you first and to seek your comments".

At 10.57AM I received a phone message from one of Minister Albanese's staff members.

I phoned the Minister's office and had a conversation with the staffer outlining the broad thrust of the story.

The Minister's staff member asked me to send an email to the Minister's office, I did that at 12.34PM and the email follows:

Dear xxx,

At about 2PM this afternoon a different person whom I know to be a more senior member of Minister Albanese's staff phoned me and we discussed in general terms the content of the article that I proposed to publish.   I read a couple of pages of the article to the staffer and I offered to read more of the article but the staffer declined.   He told me that he understood "where I was heading with the story" and that he would get back to me shortly.

I phoned Minister Albanese's office a number of times during the afternoon and made calls to various mobile phones on issue to Minister Albanese and his staff.   I held off publishing the article in anticipation of some comment or answers from the Minister.

At 5.47PM I sent the following text to the mobile phone of the senior staffer on Minister Albanese's staff

Jeff I waited for you - I presume you have no comment.   Michael

A few minutes later I received a text from that person that said, "Correct."

I then published the story.