Kathryn Campbell

Kathryn Jane Campbell, AO, CSC 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.

Major General Kathryn Campbell AO, CSC
Secretary of the Department of Human Services
In office 7 March 2011 – 17 September 2017
Preceded by	Finn Pratt
Succeeded by	Renée Leon
Secretary of the Department of Social Services
Incumbent
Assumed office 18 September 2017
Preceded by	Finn Pratt
Personal details
Nationality	Australian
Alma mater	University of New South Wales
Occupation	Public servant
Civilian awards	Officer of the Order of Australia
Military service
Allegiance	Australia
Branch/service	Australian Army Reserve
Years of service	1989–
Rank	Major General
Commands	2nd Division (2018–) 5th Brigade (2014–16) Sydney University Regiment (2007–09)
Battles/wars	Operation Okra
Military awards	Conspicuous Service Cross

In 2017 Cambell 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.[2][3][4]

Life and 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.[5]

Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced Campbell's appointment as Secretary of the Department of Human Services in late December 2010,[6] responsible for delivering the Australian Government's Centrelink, Medicare and Child Support programs, along with a number of smaller programs.[7] 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.[8]

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.

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.[9] 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."[10] 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.[11][12]

Prior to the debt recovery controversy, Campbell was regarded as a top candidate for the role of Department of Defence secretary.[13]

Wikipedia editing controversy

During a hearing of the Senate Community Affairs References Committee in August 2020, Ms Campbell expressly denied having a staff member edit her Wikipedia entry.[14]

Awards

Campbell was awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross in June 2010 for outstanding achievement as the Commanding Officer of the Sydney University Regiment,[15] and 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."[16]

References

1. McIlroy, Tom (7 September 2017). "Immigration boss Michael Pezzullo to lead new Home Affairs Department". Canberra Times. Retrieved 10 September 2017.
2. Belot, Henry (12 January 2017). "Centrelink debt recovery: Government knew of potential problems with automated program". ABC News. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
3. "Centrelink's compliance program". Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
4. "Senate sends robodebt to inquiry for the second time in three years". Australian Greens. 19 August 2019. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
5. Kathryn Campbell, Chief Executive Women, archived from the original on 12 March 2015
6. Gillard, Julia (21 December 2010). "Departmental Secretaries" (Press release). Archived from the original on 17 August 2020. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
7. 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
8. Turnbull, Malcolm (7 September 2017). "Departmental Secretaries" (Press release).
9. Belot, Henry (12 January 2017). "Centrelink debt recovery: Government knew of potential problems with automated program". ABC News. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
10. "Community Affairs References Committee". 8 March 2017. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
11. Henriques-Gomes, Luke (31 July 2020). "'Not correct' that robodebt caused suicides, former head of Human Services says". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
12. 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.
13. Waterford, Jack (10 March 2017). "Centrelink's doomed brigadier, Kathryn Campbell, stares down the hordes". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
14. "ParlInfo - Community Affairs References Committee : 17/08/2020 : Centrelink's compliance program". parlinfo.aph.gov.au. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
15. "Search Australian Honours, Name: CAMPBELL, Kathryn Jane, Award: Conspicuous Service Cross", itsanhonour.gov.au, Australian Government, archived from the original on 29 July 2015
16. "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.