Ian Campbell (Australian politician)
Encyclopedia
Ian Gordon Campbell Australian politician, was a Liberal
member of the Australian Senate
representing Western Australia between 1990 and 2007.
and lived for a time in Brisbane where he attended Brisbane Grammar School
. He was a commercial and industrial property consultant and company director before entering politics.
. He was elected in his own right in 1993, 1998 and 2004. He was a member of the Opposition Shadow Ministry 1994–96.
In government, he served in numerous roles: Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for the Environment (1996); Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Sport, Territories and Local Government (1996); Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the Senate (1996); Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer (1996–98); Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts (1998–2001); and Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer (2001–03).
Campbell also later served as Minister for Local Government, Territories and Roads
(2003–04), Minister for the Environment and Heritage
(2004–07), and Minister for Human Services
(2007).
but argued that it was important to consider environmental issues in an economic context. Amid growing community concern over the issue, he also argued for a "post-Kyoto arrangement that is effective" and a "portfolio approach" to the issue, rejecting the notion of "silver bullet" solutions.
Campbell was a vigorous critic of whaling
. Through the International Whaling Commission
, he actively campaigned against commercial and "scientific" whaling.
In 2006, Campbell drew criticism for blocking a wind farm project in south-eastern Victoria on the basis that it may pose a risk to the critically endangered Orange-bellied Parrot
. Commentators and the opposition rejected the decision as inconsistent and politically motivated.
In 2006, Campbell was criticised for the approval of the Cloud Break mine
in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, because of the number of endangered specieses in the area of the future mine, among them the incredibly rare Night Parrot
.
. The resignation came in the midst of Liberal Party attacks on Opposition leader Kevin Rudd
, for also having met with Mr Burke, and was seen as a strategy to pressure and undermine Rudd. Prime Minister John Howard
defended Campbell from charges of any moral wrong doing, despite deputy leader Peter Costello
's claim in Parliament that anyone who dealt with Brian Burke was morally compromised.
Campbell announced his retirement from politics on 4 May 2007, saying that the Prime Minister had told him the door was still open for a return to the cabinet, but that he had decided to pursue a career in the private sector. The Liberal Party in Western Australia chose Mathias Cormann
to take his place. Campbell formally resigned his Senate seat on 31 May 2007.
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
member of the Australian Senate
Australian Senate
The Senate is the upper house of the bicameral Parliament of Australia, the lower house being the House of Representatives. Senators are popularly elected under a system of proportional representation. Senators are elected for a term that is usually six years; after a double dissolution, however,...
representing Western Australia between 1990 and 2007.
Early life
Campbell was born in Perth, Western AustraliaPerth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
and lived for a time in Brisbane where he attended Brisbane Grammar School
Brisbane Grammar School
Brisbane Grammar School is an independent, non-denominational, day and boarding school for boys, located in Spring Hill, an inner suburb of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia...
. He was a commercial and industrial property consultant and company director before entering politics.
Political life
Campbell was chosen by the parliament of Western Australia on 16 May 1990 to replace retiring Senator Fred ChaneyFred Chaney
Frederick Michael Chaney, AO is a former Western Australian politician who, until April 2007, held the position of deputy chairman of the Australian Native Title Tribunal and is Chair of Desert Knowledge Australia and on the Board of Directors of Reconciliation Australia.Chaney was born in Perth,...
. He was elected in his own right in 1993, 1998 and 2004. He was a member of the Opposition Shadow Ministry 1994–96.
In government, he served in numerous roles: Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for the Environment (1996); Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Sport, Territories and Local Government (1996); Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the Senate (1996); Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer (1996–98); Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts (1998–2001); and Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer (2001–03).
Campbell also later served as Minister for Local Government, Territories and Roads
Minister for Local Government, Territories and Roads (Australia)
Minister for Local Government, Territories and Roads was a position within the Australian federal government from 7 October 2003 until 3 December 2007....
(2003–04), Minister for the Environment and Heritage
Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts (Australia)
The current Australian Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities is Tony Burke, who took over from Peter Garrett . The Minister and department change took effect in the Second Gillard Ministry on 14 September 2010...
(2004–07), and Minister for Human Services
Minister for Human Services (Australia)
The position of Minister for Human Services within Australian politics is currently held by the Hon. Tanya Plibersek MP. The Minister is responsible for a number of welfare agencies and administers her portfolio through the Department of Human Services and its component bodies:* Child Support...
(2007).
Minister for the Environment and Heritage (2004–07)
In July 2004, a pre-election reshuffle saw Campbell become Minister for the Environment and Heritage. In this role, he acknowledged the need for action on climate changeGlobal warming
Global warming refers to the rising average temperature of Earth's atmosphere and oceans and its projected continuation. In the last 100 years, Earth's average surface temperature increased by about with about two thirds of the increase occurring over just the last three decades...
but argued that it was important to consider environmental issues in an economic context. Amid growing community concern over the issue, he also argued for a "post-Kyoto arrangement that is effective" and a "portfolio approach" to the issue, rejecting the notion of "silver bullet" solutions.
Campbell was a vigorous critic of whaling
Whaling
Whaling is the hunting of whales mainly for meat and oil. Its earliest forms date to at least 3000 BC. Various coastal communities have long histories of sustenance whaling and harvesting beached whales...
. Through the International Whaling Commission
International Whaling Commission
The International Whaling Commission is an international body set up by the terms of the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling , which was signed in Washington, D.C...
, he actively campaigned against commercial and "scientific" whaling.
In 2006, Campbell drew criticism for blocking a wind farm project in south-eastern Victoria on the basis that it may pose a risk to the critically endangered Orange-bellied Parrot
Orange-bellied Parrot
The Orange-bellied Parrot is a small broad-tailed parrot endemic to southern Australia, and one of only two species of parrot which migrate. The adult male is distinguished by its bright grass-green upperparts, yellow underparts and orange belly patch. The adult female and juvenile are duller...
. Commentators and the opposition rejected the decision as inconsistent and politically motivated.
In 2006, Campbell was criticised for the approval of the Cloud Break mine
Cloud Break mine
The Cloudbreak mine is an iron ore mine located in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, 89 kilometres west-south-west of Nullagine, in the Chichester Range....
in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, because of the number of endangered specieses in the area of the future mine, among them the incredibly rare Night Parrot
Night Parrot
The Night Parrot is a small broad-tailed parrot endemic to the continent of Australia. The species was originally placed within its own genus , but most authors now prefer to place it within the genus Pezoporus together with the two ground parrots.No known sightings of the bird were made between...
.
Minister for Human Services (2007)
In January 2007, a cabinet reshuffle saw Campbell delegated the role of Human Services Minister, which was elevated to a cabinet position. However, on 3 March 2007, Campbell resigned after revelations he had met disgraced former Western Australian Premier Brian BurkeBrian Burke
Brian Thomas Burke was Labor premier of Western Australia from 25 February 1983 until his resignation on 25 February 1988...
. The resignation came in the midst of Liberal Party attacks on Opposition leader Kevin Rudd
Kevin Rudd
Kevin Michael Rudd is an Australian politician who was the 26th Prime Minister of Australia from 2007 to 2010. He has been Minister for Foreign Affairs since 2010...
, for also having met with Mr Burke, and was seen as a strategy to pressure and undermine Rudd. Prime Minister John Howard
John Howard
John Winston Howard AC, SSI, was the 25th Prime Minister of Australia, from 11 March 1996 to 3 December 2007. He was the second-longest serving Australian Prime Minister after Sir Robert Menzies....
defended Campbell from charges of any moral wrong doing, despite deputy leader Peter Costello
Peter Costello
Peter Howard Costello AC is an Australian politician and lawyer who served as the Treasurer in the Australian government from 1996 to 2007. He is the longest-serving Treasurer in Australian history. Costello was a Member of the Australian House of Representatives from 1990 to 2009, representing...
's claim in Parliament that anyone who dealt with Brian Burke was morally compromised.
Campbell announced his retirement from politics on 4 May 2007, saying that the Prime Minister had told him the door was still open for a return to the cabinet, but that he had decided to pursue a career in the private sector. The Liberal Party in Western Australia chose Mathias Cormann
Mathias Cormann
Mathias Hubert Paul Cormann is an Australian politician. He is a Liberal Party of Australia Senator for Western Australia, having been chosen by the Parliament of Western Australia on 19 June 2007 to fill the casual vacancy caused by the resignation of Senator Ian Campbell...
to take his place. Campbell formally resigned his Senate seat on 31 May 2007.