Two flags for me here:
1) How is anyone outside of the Prime Minister's office gaining access to classified information to then leak it to Slater. If confirmed this surely raises new questions about the running of the SIS.
2) The PMs office is directly encouraging him to withdraw the request still implies more involvement in this particular release then they are currently prepared to admit and only confirms Hager's assessment that the Prime Minister's office works closely with Slater.