Kathryn Campbell

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For the Canadian karateka, see Kathryn Campbell (karateka).

Major General
Kathryn Campbell
AO, CSC & Bar
Deputy Secretary Sherman Meets With Australian Secretary Campbell (51487078871) (cropped).jpg
Campbell in 2021
Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Assumed office
22 July 2021
Preceded byFrances Adamson
Secretary of the Department of Social Services
In office
18 September 2017 – 21 July 2021
Preceded byFinn Pratt
Succeeded byRay Griggs
Secretary of the Department of Human Services
In office
7 March 2011 – 17 September 2017
Preceded byFinn Pratt
Succeeded byRenée Leon
Personal details
NationalityAustralian
Alma materUniversity of Southern Queensland, University of New South Wales
OccupationPublic servant
Civilian awardsOfficer of the Order of Australia
Military service
AllegianceAustralia
Branch/serviceAustralian Army Reserve
Years of service1989–present
RankMajor General
Commands2nd Division (2018–21)
5th Brigade (2014–16)
Sydney University Regiment (2007–09)
Battles/warsOperation Okra
Military awardsConspicuous Service Cross & Bar

Kathryn Jane Campbell, AO, CSC & Bar is a senior Australian public servant and an officer in the Australian Army Reserve. She was the Secretary of the Department of Human Services from March 2011 to September 2017 when she became the Secretary of the Department of Social Services.[1] On 4 June 2018 Campbell was announced as the next commander of the 2nd Division on promotion to major general; the first woman to be appointed to the role. On 9 July 2021, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced her appointment as the Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, replacing Frances Adamson.[2]

In 2017 Campbell appeared as a subject of an Australian Senate committee inquiry into the illegal debt recovery system, commonly referred to as Robodebt, after the scheme began matching of welfare recipient's records against data from the Australian Tax Office.[3][4][5]

Career[]

Between 2005 and 2010, Campbell was Deputy Secretary of the Budget and Financial Management Groups in the Department of Finance and Deregulation, and from 2010 to 2011, Campbell was a Deputy Secretary in the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations.[6]

Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced Campbell's appointment as Secretary of the Department of Human Services in late December 2010,[7] responsible for delivering the Australian Government's Centrelink, Medicare and Child Support programs, along with a number of smaller programs.[8] Campbell commenced those duties on 7 March 2011.

On 7 September 2017, the Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced Campbell's appointment as Secretary of the Department of Social Services, commencing 18 September.[9]

On 4 June 2018 Campbell was announced as the next commander of the 2nd Division on promotion to major general; the first woman to be appointed to the role.

During a hearing of the Senate Community Affairs References Committee in August 2020, Campbell expressly denied having a staff member edit her Wikipedia entry.[10]

Centrelink debt recovery controversy[]

Beginning in 2016, Centrelink became embroiled in a debt recovery controversy, also called Robodebt, after it began historic matching of welfare recipient's records against data from the Australian Tax Office.[11] Appearing before a Senate committee inquiry into the program in March 2017, Campbell stated "The view of the department is that there are a number of refinements that need to be made—those refinements are being made—and that the system should continue."[12] At a Senate hearing in July, 2020, Campbell also denied allegations that several welfare recipients had suicided as a result of receiving the unlawful automated debt recovery notices.[13][14]

Prior to the debt recovery controversy, Campbell was regarded as a top candidate for the role of Department of Defence secretary.[15]

Awards[]

Campbell was awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross (CSC) in June 2010 for outstanding achievement as the Commanding Officer of the Sydney University Regiment,[16] appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in the 2019 Australia Day Honours in recognition of her "distinguished service to public administration through senior roles with government departments, and to the Australian Army Reserve",[17] and awarded a Bar to her CSC in the 2022 Australia Day Honours for "outstanding achievement as the Commander of the 2nd Division".[18]

References[]

  1. ^ McIlroy, Tom (7 September 2017). "Immigration boss Michael Pezzullo to lead new Home Affairs Department". Canberra Times. Retrieved 10 September 2017.
  2. ^ Prime Minister of Australia. "Announcement of New Department Secretaries". pm.gov.au. Retrieved 9 July 2021..
  3. ^ Belot, Henry (12 January 2017). "Centrelink debt recovery: Government knew of potential problems with automated program". ABC News. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
  4. ^ "Centrelink's compliance program". Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  5. ^ "Senate sends robodebt to inquiry for the second time in three years". Australian Greens. 19 August 2019. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  6. ^ Kathryn Campbell, Chief Executive Women, archived from the original on 12 March 2015
  7. ^ Gillard, Julia (21 December 2010). "Departmental Secretaries" (Press release). Archived from the original on 17 August 2020. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
  8. ^ Australian Public Service Commission (2014), Australian Government Leadership Network Annual Conference: Towards Excellence, Building Capacity for Change (PDF), Australian Government, p. 5, archived from the original (PDF) on 29 July 2015
  9. ^ Turnbull, Malcolm (7 September 2017). "Departmental Secretaries" (Press release).
  10. ^ "ParlInfo - Community Affairs References Committee : 17/08/2020 : Centrelink's compliance program". parlinfo.aph.gov.au. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
  11. ^ Belot, Henry (12 January 2017). "Centrelink debt recovery: Government knew of potential problems with automated program". ABC News. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
  12. ^ "Community Affairs References Committee". 8 March 2017. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
  13. ^ Henriques-Gomes, Luke (31 July 2020). "'Not correct' that robodebt caused suicides, former head of Human Services says". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
  14. ^ Henriques-Gomes, Luke (17 August 2020). "Robodebt official challenged by mothers of two young men who took their own lives". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
  15. ^ Waterford, Jack (10 March 2017). "Centrelink's doomed brigadier, Kathryn Campbell, stares down the hordes". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
  16. ^ "Search Australian Honours, Name: CAMPBELL, Kathryn Jane, Award: Conspicuous Service Cross", itsanhonour.gov.au, Australian Government, archived from the original on 29 July 2015
  17. ^ "Officer (AO) in the General Division of the Order of Australia" (PDF). Australia Day 2019 Honours List. Office of the Governor-General of Australia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 January 2019. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
  18. ^ "Australia Day 2022 Honours List" (PDF). Office of the Governor-General of Australia. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
Government offices
Preceded by Secretary of the Department of Human Services
2011–2017 		Succeeded by
Secretary of the Department of Social Services
2017–2021 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
2021–present 		Incumbent
Military offices
Preceded by
Major General
Commander 2nd Division
2018–2021 		Succeeded by
Major General
Retrieved from ""