David Andrew Campbell
Encyclopedia
David Andrew Campbell a former Australian politician, was a Member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
for Keira
between 1999 and 2011. A former Lord Mayor of Wollongong
, Campbell was Minister for Transport in the NSW Government
from 8 September 2008 until his resignation on 20 May 2010. On 28 September 2010, Campbell announced that he would not seek Labor endorsement for re-election at the 2011 NSW election
.
the son of Margaret and Harry Campbell. In 1974, Campbell married Edna and together they have two adult sons.
Campbell joined the Australian Labor Party
in the mid-1970s. He was an alderman
on the Council of the City of Wollongong
from 1987 to 1999 and Lord Mayor
from September 1991 to 1999. He was appointed a Fellow of the University of Wollongong
in 1995.
representing the Australian Labor Party
following a decision by Col Markham
to contest the seat of Wollongong
. Campbell was re-elected as Member for Keira at the 2003
and 2007 elections.
In 2003, Campbell was appointed Minister for Regional Development, Minister for the Illawarra
, and Minister for Small Business by Premier Bob Carr
, and Minister for Water Utilities in February 2006 by Premier Iemma
. Following the 2007 election, Iemma appointed Campbell to the role of Police Minister and Minister for Illawarra. Premier Nathan Rees
promoted Campbell as Minister for Transport on 8 September 2008, which was expanded to include Roads under Premier Kristina Keneally
in December 2009.
For most of 2009, Minister Campbell was dogged by the controversial Metro project
, a Metro style rail proposal for the Sydney CBD and Inner West. Originally expected to cost AUD
2 billion), the CBD Metro was later estimated to cost $7 billion and caused Campbell to come under pressure from the public over the continued viability of the project. The Sydney Metro was cancelled in February 2010. Campbell was labelled 'Mr Slow' by the NSW opposition and the Daily Telegraph
for his handling of transport issues.
broadcast video surveillance revealing Campbell leaving a gay sex club in Kensington
.
Shortly before the footage was aired, Campbell resigned as minister for Transport and Roads citing personal reasons and said that he would remain as the Member for Keira
.
The journalist who broke the story, Adam Walters
, defended airing the footage, saying it was in the "public interest". Walters was supported by former Labor Premier Barrie Unsworth
, who described Campbell's actions as "deplorable." Mr Unsworth told The Australian
newspaper "Campbell has been the police minister and he's been on the NSW Crime Commission
, and he's frequented places where he's easily recognised. The threat is not from Channel 7 lurking outside but by the people inside. We've got a criminal milieu in this city and he laid himself open to all sorts of threats and blackmail." Another former Labor Premier Bob Carr
defended Campbell. "My position has always been that the private life of MPs is precisely that," Mr Carr said. Others, including the former High Court justice Michael Kirby, criticised Walters and Seven, with Kirby describing Seven News
as "serial homophobes" for their coverage of the story.
On 28 September 2010, Campbell announced that he would not seek Labor Party endorsement, nor re-election, for the seat of Keira at the 2011 general election
. It was reported that Campbell claimed he had strong support from the Labor Party and was confident he would have been endorsed for his seat should he have decided to contest the election. Campbell resigned after serving 24 years as an elected representative in local and state politics.
New South Wales Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of New South Wales, an Australian state. The other chamber is the Legislative Council. Both the Assembly and Council sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney...
for Keira
Electoral district of Keira
Keira is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. It is represented by Ryan Park of the Australian Labor Party.-Members for Keira:-Election results:...
between 1999 and 2011. A former Lord Mayor of Wollongong
City of Wollongong
The City of Wollongong is a Local Government Area in the Illawarra region of New South Wales, Australia. It is on the Pacific Ocean, the Southern Freeway and the South Coast railway line....
, Campbell was Minister for Transport in the NSW Government
Government of New South Wales
The form of the Government of New South Wales is prescribed in its Constitution, which dates from 1856, although it has been amended many times since then...
from 8 September 2008 until his resignation on 20 May 2010. On 28 September 2010, Campbell announced that he would not seek Labor endorsement for re-election at the 2011 NSW election
New South Wales state election, 2011
Elections to the 55th Parliament of New South Wales were held on Saturday, 26 March 2011. The 16-year incumbent Australian Labor Party government led by Premier Kristina Keneally was defeated in a landslide by the Liberal-National coalition opposition led by Barry O'Farrell.New South Wales has...
.
Background and early years
Campbell was born in Bulli, New South WalesBulli, New South Wales
Bulli is a northern suburb of Wollongong situated on the south coast of New South Wales, Australia. Bulli is derived from an Aboriginal word signifying "double or two mountains"....
the son of Margaret and Harry Campbell. In 1974, Campbell married Edna and together they have two adult sons.
Campbell joined the Australian Labor Party
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
in the mid-1970s. He was an alderman
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
on the Council of the City of Wollongong
City of Wollongong
The City of Wollongong is a Local Government Area in the Illawarra region of New South Wales, Australia. It is on the Pacific Ocean, the Southern Freeway and the South Coast railway line....
from 1987 to 1999 and Lord Mayor
Lord Mayor
The Lord Mayor is the title of the Mayor of a major city, with special recognition.-Commonwealth of Nations:* In Australia it is a political position. Australian cities with Lord Mayors: Adelaide, Brisbane, Darwin, Hobart, Melbourne, Newcastle, Parramatta, Perth, Sydney, and Wollongong...
from September 1991 to 1999. He was appointed a Fellow of the University of Wollongong
University of Wollongong
The University of Wollongong is a public university located in the coastal city of Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia, approximately 80 kilometres south of Sydney...
in 1995.
State politics
Campbell was elected as Member for Keira in March 1999New South Wales state election, 1999
Elections to the 52nd Parliament of New South Wales were held on Saturday, 27 March 1999. All seats in the Legislative Assembly and half the seats in the Legislative Council were up for election...
representing the Australian Labor Party
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
following a decision by Col Markham
Col Markham
Colin William Markham is an Australian politician. He was an Australian Labor Party member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1988 to 2003, representing the electorates of Keira and Wollongong...
to contest the seat of Wollongong
Electoral district of Wollongong
Wollongong is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. It is represented by Noreen Hay of the Australian Labor Party.-History:...
. Campbell was re-elected as Member for Keira at the 2003
New South Wales state election, 2003
Elections to the 53rd Parliament of New South Wales were held on Saturday 22 March 2003. All seats in the Legislative Assembly and half the seats in the Legislative Council were up for election...
and 2007 elections.
In 2003, Campbell was appointed Minister for Regional Development, Minister for the Illawarra
Illawarra
Illawarra is a region in the Australian state of New South Wales. It is a coastal region situated immediately south of Sydney and north of the Shoalhaven or South Coast region. It encompasses the cities of Wollongong, Shellharbour, Shoalhaven and the town of Kiama. The central region contains Lake...
, and Minister for Small Business by Premier Bob Carr
Bob Carr
Robert John "Bob" Carr , Australian statesman, was Premier of New South Wales from 4 April 1995 to 3 August 2005. He holds the record for the longest continuous service as premier of NSW...
, and Minister for Water Utilities in February 2006 by Premier Iemma
Morris Iemma
Morris Iemma , is a former Australian politician and 40th Premier of New South Wales, succeeding Bob Carr after he resigned on 3 August 2005. Iemma led the Australian Labor Party to victory in the 2007 election before resigning as Premier on 5 September 2008, and as a Member of Parliament on 19...
. Following the 2007 election, Iemma appointed Campbell to the role of Police Minister and Minister for Illawarra. Premier Nathan Rees
Nathan Rees
Nathan Rees MP, , an Australian politician, was the 41st Premier of New South Wales and parliamentary leader of the New South Wales division of the Australian Labor Party from September 2008 to December 2009...
promoted Campbell as Minister for Transport on 8 September 2008, which was expanded to include Roads under Premier Kristina Keneally
Kristina Keneally
Kristina Kerscher Keneally MP, is an Australian politician and was the 42nd Premier of New South Wales. She was elected leader of the Australian Labor Party in New South Wales and thus Premier in 2009, but went on to lose government to the Liberal/National Coalition at the March 2011 state election...
in December 2009.
For most of 2009, Minister Campbell was dogged by the controversial Metro project
CBD Metro
CBD Metro was a proposed metro line running in Sydney, Australia announced on 23 October 2008. It was to be undertaken by the NSW State Government and was placed on a short-list of projects to be funded by Infrastructure Australia's Building Australia Fund in December 2008...
, a Metro style rail proposal for the Sydney CBD and Inner West. Originally expected to cost AUD
Aud
Aud might refer to*Australian dollar *Ambedkar University, Delhi *American University in Dubai *Doctor of Audiology *Auðr, the son of Nótt and Naglfari in Norse mythology...
2 billion), the CBD Metro was later estimated to cost $7 billion and caused Campbell to come under pressure from the public over the continued viability of the project. The Sydney Metro was cancelled in February 2010. Campbell was labelled 'Mr Slow' by the NSW opposition and the Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph (Australia)
The Daily Telegraph is an Australian tabloid newspaper published in Sydney, New South Wales, by Nationwide News, part of News Corporation.The Tele, as it is also known, was founded in 1879. From 1936 to 1972, it was owned by Frank Packer's Australian Consolidated Press. That year it was sold to...
for his handling of transport issues.
Resignation
On 20 May 2010, Seven NewsSeven News
Seven News is the television news service of the Seven Network in Australia.National bulletins are presented from Seven's high-definition studios in Martin Place, Sydney, while flagship 6pm bulletins are produced in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, and Perth. The network also produces Seven...
broadcast video surveillance revealing Campbell leaving a gay sex club in Kensington
Kensington, New South Wales
Kensington is a suburb in south-eastern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Kensington is located 6 kilometres south-east of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the City of Randwick, in the Eastern Suburbs region...
.
Shortly before the footage was aired, Campbell resigned as minister for Transport and Roads citing personal reasons and said that he would remain as the Member for Keira
Electoral district of Keira
Keira is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. It is represented by Ryan Park of the Australian Labor Party.-Members for Keira:-Election results:...
.
The journalist who broke the story, Adam Walters
Adam Walters
Adam Walters is an Australian journalist and author. He was also a political adviser to former New South Wales Premier, Morris Iemma.-Journalistic career:...
, defended airing the footage, saying it was in the "public interest". Walters was supported by former Labor Premier Barrie Unsworth
Barrie Unsworth
Barrie John Unsworth was an Australian politician, representing the Australian Labor Party in the Parliament of New South Wales from 1978 to 1991. He served as the 36th Premier from July 1986 to March 1988.-Early years:...
, who described Campbell's actions as "deplorable." Mr Unsworth told The Australian
The Australian
The Australian is a broadsheet newspaper published in Australia from Monday to Saturday each week since 14 July 1964. The editor in chief is Chris Mitchell, the editor is Clive Mathieson and the 'editor-at-large' is Paul Kelly....
newspaper "Campbell has been the police minister and he's been on the NSW Crime Commission
New South Wales Crime Commission
The New South Wales Crime Commission is an Australian statutory corporation with the main objectives of reducing the occurrence of illegal drug trafficking and organised crime in New South Wales. In more recent years, the commission has also taken on a charter of assisting with the investigation of...
, and he's frequented places where he's easily recognised. The threat is not from Channel 7 lurking outside but by the people inside. We've got a criminal milieu in this city and he laid himself open to all sorts of threats and blackmail." Another former Labor Premier Bob Carr
Bob Carr
Robert John "Bob" Carr , Australian statesman, was Premier of New South Wales from 4 April 1995 to 3 August 2005. He holds the record for the longest continuous service as premier of NSW...
defended Campbell. "My position has always been that the private life of MPs is precisely that," Mr Carr said. Others, including the former High Court justice Michael Kirby, criticised Walters and Seven, with Kirby describing Seven News
Seven News
Seven News is the television news service of the Seven Network in Australia.National bulletins are presented from Seven's high-definition studios in Martin Place, Sydney, while flagship 6pm bulletins are produced in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, and Perth. The network also produces Seven...
as "serial homophobes" for their coverage of the story.
On 28 September 2010, Campbell announced that he would not seek Labor Party endorsement, nor re-election, for the seat of Keira at the 2011 general election
New South Wales state election, 2011
Elections to the 55th Parliament of New South Wales were held on Saturday, 26 March 2011. The 16-year incumbent Australian Labor Party government led by Premier Kristina Keneally was defeated in a landslide by the Liberal-National coalition opposition led by Barry O'Farrell.New South Wales has...
. It was reported that Campbell claimed he had strong support from the Labor Party and was confident he would have been endorsed for his seat should he have decided to contest the election. Campbell resigned after serving 24 years as an elected representative in local and state politics.