Border commander Lieutenant-General Angus Campbell faces Senator Stephen Conroy in a Senate estimates committee. Source: News Corp Australia
WHERE Stephen Conroy worked as a union official and local councillor before entering parliament, Operation Sovereign Borders commander Angus Campbell has risen through the infantry and SAS, leading troops in three continents.
The government has demanded Bill Shorten discipline his defence spokesman, Senator Conroy, for his “cowardly”, “unprovoked” and “outrageous” attack on the Operation Sovereign Borders commander during a Senate estimates hearing yesterday.
Senator Conroy accused Lieutenant-General Campbell of a political cover-up for his role in restricting information about asylum-seeker operations — a claim he later withdrew but has not apologised for.
Defence force chief David Hurley today hit back at Senator Conroy, describing General Campbell as having a reputation in Australia and beyond of being an officer of integrity, intellect and studied impartiality.
“He is widely respected across Australia’s political divide,’’ General Hurley told a Senate estimate hearing, noting “the shadow will linger” despite Senator Conroy’s withdrawal.
General Campbell, who was appointed Deputy Chief of Army in February 2012, has led troops in dangerous theatres, including Afghanistan, since graduating from the Royal Military College Duntroon in 1984.
He initially served as an infantry officer and a parachute platoon commander before joining the Special Air Service Regiment where he served as troop and squadron commander.
In 2001, General Campbell commanded the 2nd Battalion Group on deployment to East Timor and was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 2003 for his exceptional service there.
He served on the staff of two defence chiefs — Peter Cosgrove and Angus Houston — before joining the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet in 2005, ultimately serving as Deputy National Security Adviser.
General Campbell returned to the military in 2010 and a year later assumed command of all Australian forces deployed in the Middle East Area of Operations, including Afghanistan. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for that service.
Senator Conroy graduated from the Australian National University with an bachelor’s degree in economics and worked at the Transport Workers’ Union as a superannuation officer and research assistant.
In 1993 Senator Conroy was elected to Footscray council, in Melbourne’s west. In 1996 he was appointed to fill the casual Senate vacancy created by Gareth Evans’ shift to the lower house.
Senator Conroy held various shadow portfolios between 1998 and 2007, and was communications minister during the Rudd and Gillard governments. He also served as government Senate leader.
He joined the Labor Party’s national executive in 1998.
Senator Conroy has taken part in official parliamentary visits to Canada, the United States, Thailand, Korea, Singapore, Britain, Germany, Switzerland, New Zealand, Egypt, Mexico, Japan, Israel, Chile, France, the Netherlands and Hong Kong.
Additional reporting: AAP
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