PM's ASIO visit 'may have facilitated security breach'

The opposition fears the prime minister's visit to ASIO's headquarters may have facilitated a security breach because special maps were shown publicly.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Director General of Security Duncan Lewis look at a screen showing a map of Syria and Iraq at tue start of a classified briefing at ASIO headquarters in Canberra, Wednesday, June 24, 2015. (AAP Image/Lukas Coch) Source: AAP

Prime Minister Tony Abbott's visit to the Australian spy agency headquarters may have facilitated a security breach, the opposition claims.

During a picture opportunity for television and news photographers, ASIO director general Duncan Lewis showed Mr Abbott colour coded maps of the Sydney and Melbourne suburbs where most foreign fighters came from, but ASIO admitted the maps were not meant for publication.

"The prime minister must immediately clarify whether these documents were for official use only," opposition defence spokesman David Feeney told ABC Radio.

The maps on the table in front of Mr Abbott highlighted the Sydney suburbs of Lidcombe, Greenacre, Punchbowl, Bankstown, Auburn and Lakemba.

Melbourne suburbs included Craigieburn and Campbellfield.