The Secretary of the Department of Defence, Greg Moriarty, has defended the hiring of former robodebt and Human Services chief executive Kathryn Campbell on her full SES Band-3 salary and rank as an executive within the fledgling AUKUS program at senate estimates, saying it came before the royal commission into the illegal scheme.
Pursued by senator Jacqui Lambie over the appointment and citing evidence provided to previous estimates hearings, Moriarty said, “I’d also like to inform the committee that they’d be, of course, aware that Ms Campbell resigned from the Australian Public Service effective 21 July this year.”
The ultimate fate of Campbell in the wake of the Royal Commission into the Robodebt Scheme is still unknown because of due process surrounding a sealed section of the inquiry that may or may not make criminal referrals or send matters to the National Anti-Corruption Commission.
Senator Lambie, a former member of the Australian Defence Force, sought to confirm for the public record what Campbell earned at Defence.
“The APS commissioner approved Defence’s offer of a total remuneration to Ms Campbell of $892,630. This is a requirement of the APS executive remuneration management policy, which required the APS commissioner to approve that salary,” Moriarty said.
“The offer was based on the nature of that position. When she resigned, there would have been a calculation done, a termination calculation done, I do not have the exact details available of what that termination would have been.”
In cross-talk with Moriarty, Lambie said Defence had not yet responded to questions put to it.
Campbell is clearly in the Taswegian senator’s crosshairs.
“Okay, so what exactly was she doing in her role? What did she give back to the country? What were we paying her for? What did she achieve Mr Moriarty?,” Lambie quizzed.
Moriarty said, “Campbell was engaged in a non-ongoing role as SES band three officer within the AUKUS program.”
“She provided advice to the Australian Submarine Agency before it was set up, and then continued on after that. She provided advice on the structures into government agencies, relationships.
“She had some previous experience [with] how to establish agencies within portfolios. She provided a useful service and her contribution was appreciated by the Submarine Agency,” Moriarty said.
Asked how much overseas travel was required, Moriarty took the question on notice, pending advice, in addition to Campbell’s membership of airport lounges.
Asked directly by Lambie if “you had a thought about the way you that you hired her that you might have misjudged her character?” Moriarty was succinct.
“I really don’t wish to say anything beyond that,” Moriarty cordially replied.
“At the time that we engaged Ms Campbell, there was no royal commission.”
Senate estimates continues.
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