Australian Associated Press
theguardian.com, Wednesday 18 September 2013
Abbott government to confirm that former SAS commander will take charge of its plan to stop asylum seekers' boats
Angus Campbell addresses mourners last year at a memorial service in Western Australia for Sergeant Blaine Diddams, who was killed in action in Afghanistan. Photograph: Chris Moore/ADF
The Abbott government is about to confirm that deputy chief of army Angus Campbell will head its plan to stop asylum seekers' boats.
As Tony Abbott's new government prepared to be sworn in at Government House in Canberra on Wednesday, it was revealed that Operation Sovereign Borders would be launched afterwards.
It is understood Major-General Campbell will take charge of the operation and be promoted to the three-star rank of lieutenant-general.
The former SAS commander and Howard government deputy national security adviser will steer a multi-agency task force to deal with people-smuggling and reduce the number of boats.
Australia Defence Association executive director Neil James said Campbell was ideally suited to the new role because of his senior public service, military experience and special forces background.
James said the association had no objection to much of the Coalition plan. But there were concerns about whether the three-star officer would be seconded to a civil function or command an Australian Defence Force order.
"If it is to be a command, there are some interesting legal problems that would need solving first," James said.
The ADA has raised concern that having a military officer answer directly as a commander to the immigration minister could breach the Defence Act and the Westminster convention of separating military command from civil control of the military.
Campbell joined the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet in late 2005 as a first assistant secretary to head the Office of National Security and later became deputy national security adviser.
Returning to the ADF in early 2010, he was appointed to the rank of major-general and assumed command of all Australian forces in the Middle East. He became deputy chief of army in February 2012.
A total of 493 people have arrived on seven boats since the election on 7 September.
Incoming immigration minister Scott Morrison said any decision to release information about the number of asylum-seeker boats bound for Australia would be a matter for Defence.
The ABC has reported it understands that special operations commander Major-General Gus Gilmore will be the second in command.
Army deputy chief Angus Campbell to lead Operation Sovereign Borders | World news | theguardian.com
