DEFENCE force chief David Hurley says it’s not enough that Labor’s Stephen Conroy has withdrawn his accusation that border commander Angus Campbell has been engaged in a political cover-up.
“Unfortunately, once said, the shadow will linger,’’ General Hurley said today, adding Lieutenant-General Campbell had a reputation in Australia and beyond of being an officer of integrity, intellect and studied impartiality.
The Coalition today maintained its attack on Senator Conroy, Labor’s defence spokesman, demanding he apologise for yesterday accusing the Operation Sovereign Borders commander of a political cover-up for helping to restrict information about asylum-seeker interceptions.
Senator Conroy withdrew the accusation against Lieutenant-General Campbell after Senate estimates hearing was yesterday shut down for 10 minutes over the row.
Hearings resumed this morning and, in response to General Hurley, Senator Conroy said he wanted to make it clear that he had no criticism of defence personnel carrying out government orders.
“But this government is ordering Australian soldiers into dangerous situations in a civilian operation,’’ he said.
The government was allowing a stain to hang over personnel by refusing to provide full answers, he said.
Senator Conroy earlier insisted it was not for him to apologise.
“It is the government who should be apologising to the Australian public,’’ he told reporters, citing the death of an asylum-seeker at the Manus Island detention centre.
Tony Abbott said Senator Conroy had yesterday had a “brain snap’’.
“I think that uniformed officers of our country should be treated with our deep respect,’’ the Prime Minister said.
Mr Abbott said if the senator wasn’t “big enough’’ to apologise, Labor leader Bill Shorten should have a word in his colleague’s ear.
Mr Shorten said Labor’s “beef’’ was not with the military, but their “political masters’’ in the government.
“We don’t support the federal government using our military in a cloak of secrecy and not being upfront with the Australian people,’’ he said.
Australian Greens MP Adam Bandt said it was disappointing the military was implicated in a cover-up when the matter was ultimately the responsibility of Immigration Minister Scott Morrison.
Assistant Defence Minister Stuart Robert said Lieutenant-General Campbell was a decorated officer and should be lauded for stopping the boats and not subjected to grubby attacks.
“Be a man, Conroy and apologise,’’ he told reporters.
Independent MP Clive Palmer said he understood Senator Conroy’s frustration over government secrecy about Operation Sovereign Borders.
“It’s very disappointing the military have been brought into what is a political fight,’’ he said, adding the military should not be used for that purpose.
AAP
