The Australian Federal Police (AFP) has confirmed it will investigate the leak of highly classified national defence force information. A report in Wednesday's The Australian quoted former Prime Minister Tony Abbott as saying he was "flabbergasted" at current PM Malcolm Turnbull's decision to delay the acquisition of new submarines. The story published information from a classified draft of the defence white paper written while Mr Abbott was PM and while Kevin Andrews was defence minister. • Cardinal George Pell jeered by abuse survivors • Pat Dodson in line for Senate • Airport strikes for Easter The final copy of the defence white paper was released last week by Mr Turnbull and current defence minister Marise Payne. Amid speculation over the source of the leak, Mr Abbott said he was not to blame. "I don't leak, I don't background against colleagues. If I've got something to say, I say it," he said in a statement on Wednesday.