Independent senator Jacqui Lambie blasts Belgium appointment of former defence force chief Angus Campbell

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Independent senator Jacqui Lambie blasts Belgium appointment of former defence force chief Angus Campbell

Independent senator Jacqui Lambie has issued a withering take-down of ex-defence force chief Angus Campbell after he received a plum diplomatic posting despite overseeing one of the most scandal-plagued eras in ADF history.

Writing in The ***********, Ms Lambie lampooned the appointment of Mr Campbell as Australia’s ambassador to Belgium, based in Luxembourg.

The appointment follows Mr Campbell stepping down as the boss of the *********** Defence Force in November after a six-year stint mired in controversy and derided by veterans’ groups.

In her column, Ms Lambie, a former army corporal, said Mr Campbell was on the “longest winning streak in history”.

“This is a man who was in positions of very senior command, including the highest position of chief of the defence force, when much of the worst defence abuse and systemic weaponisation of administrative processes took place,” she wrote.

“He was chief of army when other inquiries into defence abuse delivered their adverse findings and recommendations; Campbell sat on his hands.

“Campbell cannot claim to have been ignorant of what was happening on his watch.

“He was chief of the defence force when Defence obfuscated and frustrated the operations of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide — this included refusing to hand over key documents, despite repeated pleas from the commissioners.

“Campbell’s refusal to fully acknowledge systemic failings and accept personal responsibility during the royal commission, noting the impact such refusal had on victims and other witnesses, shows a lack of diplomacy and empathy.

“Probably not ideal traits for an ambassador.”

Ms Lambie also said Mr Campbell was in overall command of Aussie forces in Afghanistan when some of the worst allegations of war crimes arose.

“He has never accepted any command responsibility for the alleged conduct. He was happy to throw Diggers under the bus, while senior command got off scot-free.,” she said.

“For veterans who served in Afghanistan, the announcement of Campbell’s latest gig will be particularly galling.

“He accepted his Distinguished Service Cross under dubious circumstances (in terms of eligibility) and has not returned his DSC notwithstanding that subordinate commanders have been made to return theirs.”

When Mr Campbell’s new role was announced last week, he told reporters the ADF was “far better and more capable” than the one he joined at the start of his career.

“What a joke,” Ms Lambie wrote.

“The ADF currently has the worst enlistment and retention numbers in years.

“Once again a Canberra ‘mate’ is getting a top job on big bucks with lots of prestige when — in my view and many others — he simply doesn’t deserve it.”

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