Operation Sovereign Borders hearing: Defence Chief David Hurley surprised by Stephen Conroy's 'political cover-up' remarks

Updated

The Defence Force Chief has warned that accusations of a "political cover-up" levelled at the military commander in charge of the Federal Government's asylum seeker boats mission will "linger".

Labor's defence spokesman Stephen Conroy made the remarks in a Senate committee hearing into Operation Sovereign Borders (OSB) yesterday.

When questioning OSB commander Lieutenant General Angus Campbell about the secrecy surrounding the operation, Senator Conroy accused him of being "engaged in a political cover-up".

The Senator later withdrew the comments but has refused to apologise.

This morning, Defence Force Chief General David Hurley told Senate estimates that Lt Gen Campbell was widely respected across the political divide.

"I was surprised at the accusations made against Lieutenant General Angus Campbell," he said.

"I am pleased these accusations were withdrawn, but unfortunately once said, the shadow will linger.

"Lieutenant General Campbell has a reputation in Canberra, more widely in Australia and overseas, of integrity, intellect and studied impartiality.

"He is widely respected across Australia's public divide."

We asked whether you thought Senator Conroy should apologise. Here is what you said.

Senator Conroy responded in the same estimates committee by saying he has no criticism of service personnel carrying out the Government's orders.

"But the Australian public are entitled to ask questions, they're entitled to answers about what is going on," he said.

"And while the Government continues to refuse to allow service personnel to defend themselves, we're going to continue to have a very difficult set of circumstances."

Abbott says Conroy's 'brain snap' unfortunate

Prime Minister Tony Abbott says public servants should be treated with respect and it would be "big" of Senator Conroy to apologise.

"I think it's very unfortunate that Senator Conroy had a brain snap," Mr Abbott said.

Assistant Minister for Defence Stuart Robert says it was a "grubby attack".

"Be a man, Conroy, apologise," he said. "Be a man, Bill Shorten, and demand that Senator Conroy apologise."

But the Opposition Leader is standing by his defence spokesman.

"Senator Conroy made remarks and now he has withdrawn them," Mr Shorten said.

But Labor MP Joel Fitzgibbon, who served as defence minister in Kevin Rudd's cabinet, refused to back his party colleague.

"I'm going to let Stephen Conroy speak for himself," he said.

"I have the highest regard for our military leaders in this country and I'll leave Stephen Conroy to speak for himself."

Topics: defence-forces, defence-and-national-security, federal-government, refugees, immigration, community-and-society, government-and-politics, federal-parliament, australia

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