A former special forces commander who spearheaded the Coalition government’s efforts to “stop the boats” has been named Australia’s new chief of the defence force.

The chief of army, lieutenant general Angus Campbell, who was formerly the commander of Operation Sovereign Borders, will replace air chief marshal Mark Binskin, who will step down when his four-year term in the role ends in July.

At a press conference in Canberra, Malcolm Turnbull said the the “leadership renewal” would see the current chief of joint operations, vice-admiral David Johnston, become the vice-chief of the Australian defence force.

Flanked by the defence minister, Marise Payne, the prime minister said Australians could have “enormous trust and confidence in both of these new leaders of our defence force”.

Campbell said he appreciated the confidence and trust placed in him by Turnbull and Payne.

“It’s a great privilege and honour to serve,” he said. “It is also an extraordinary responsibility to lead and take care of the men and women of the Australian defence force.”

During his time leading Operation Sovereign Borders, Campbell was criticised for appearing in an advertising campaign warning asylum seekers “you will not make Australia home” and for being unable to answer basic questions about asylum seeker vessel operations in a Senate inquiry.

Campbell also spent four years as a national security adviser in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, which Payne quipped had been a “character building” experience.

Asked about his propensity to cite “on-water matters” in refusing to provide information on boat turnbacks, Campbell replied: “I’m sure that my approach will be appropriate to the position and to the relationship between the Australian defence force and the media.”

Asked about specific defence challenges, including China’s militarisation of the South China Sea, Campbell deferred to Binskin, citing the fact “there is one chief at a time”.

“We have a very constructive relationship with China and that’s all I intend to say,” he said.

At a press conference in Brisbane, the opposition leader, Bill Shorten, welcomed Campbell’s “well-deserved appointment”, adding that Labor “wholeheartedly” supported it.

“He’s operated at the highest levels of implementation of policy,” Shorten said. “I don’t hold the defence force responsible for the decisions of the government of the day.

“And it doesn’t matter if you are a private in the army or the chief of defence forces, Labor will always support the professionalism of our Australian defence forces.

“Angus Campbell will do, I think, a very distinguished role as his predecessor did.”

Earlier, Turnbull thanked Binskin for his service. He noted Binskin had overseen the transition of the mission in Afghanistan from combat to an “advise and assist” role and credited the “game-changing role” played by the ADF in fighting the Isil insurgency alongside the Philippines armed forces in Marawi.

Binskin said his time as chief of the defence force had “not been dull”.

“I have every bit of confidence in the new team, when they take over in July, to be able to continue with the tempo, continue with the change, and continue to command and lead the Australian defence force into the future,” he said.

Payne announced three further appointments: air vice-marshal Mel Hupfeld will be appointed chief of joint operations; rear admiral Mike Noonan will become the chief of navy; and major general Rick Burr will become chief of army.