I notice that all the articles that try and airbrush away the boorishness of Conroy's attack don't include his comments for a very obvious reason that it is very difficult to interpret this in any way other than a direct personal attack on Campbell's integrity.

Here are the comments verbatim:

"''I mean seriously, you can't tell us the truth, you can't tell the Australian public the truth because you might upset an international neighbour. That's called a political cover-up,'' he said.

General Campbell replied: ''Senator, I feel I've explained the basis of my decisions …''

Senator Conroy replied: ''That's a political cover-up. You're engaged in a political cover up,'' while interrupting the General.

General Campbell said he took ''extreme offence'' at the comments."

The stunning success of Campbell's operation has left Labor looking very stupid, and Labor would love to sabotage it by rubbing it in the faces of the Indonesians who are clearly happy to quietly co operate. Conroy's boorish attempt to discredit Campbell backfired.

Foxy

"I stopped reading after "Juliar.", I can understand your shame in having such a deceitful PM.

Having read quite a bit on this, including what has been posted on the forum. I am no fan of Conroy, but as an elected representative of us the people, the Senator had every right to question General Campbell in the fashion he did. If for no other reason than a young man, Reza Berati, had been killed om Manus Island, while under Australian guardianship. Compounding the mystery surrounding Renza death are conflicting statements by Minister Morrison,
Campbell is a public servant, in charge of a very responsible action on behalf of us all. Just like any other public servant in a responsible position, Campbell should be open to public scrutiny from our elected representatives.
Granted, the questioning from Conroy was harsh and rather pointed, the issue at the heart of the matter is also rather harsh and pointed. Given the circumstances, I think Conroy had every right to ask the questions he did. If Campbell was a little upset at this line, too bad, its all about getting to the truth of the matter! Some are now seeing the military as sacrosanct and off limits to public scrutiny, this in itself is a dangerous thing.
Conroy as our elected representative, I do not believe has any need to apologize over this.

Paul,

The gaping hole in your attempted whitewashing of Conroy's douchebaggery is that General Campbell is not responsible for the PNG solution (the structure and manning agreements which was set up by Labor).

What Campbell is primarily responsible is the stopping of the boats at sea which has been spectacularly successful with no deaths or serious injuries.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/07/BoatArrivals.gif

Conroy was deliberately going after Campbell personally, and ended up looking more of an idiotic sleazebag than usual.

SM,

Talking about deceit - blaming Senator Conroy for
expressing his frustration with the stubborn refusal
of the government representatives to answer simple questions
and instead having them expound parrot-like replies
should be unacceptable to us all. Blaming the Senator for
doing his job is a diversion and a Liberal tactic to take
attention away from the real and important issues at hand.
What happened to the current government's pre-election
promise of accountability? When in opposition that current
government demanded every answer from the government of
the day. And now that they are in government - suddenly
they are unwilling to answer even the simplest questions
that the electorate deserves to hear.

This makes our democratic process a shamm and is simply
not good enough!

That will be me too Foxy and Paul.
No mate of mine Shadow Minister but in this case he is right.
Conroy was not addressing a public servant,not the man in charge or even who knew.

Take me as you wish, I am biased think the bloke a half wit betrayer of my party and purely filth for the great harm he did in dumping Rudd/being a faction Lord.
But leaving the bias in the bucket at the door remind every one, *only true believers and those concerned by the refugee sarga are on his side*.
*Again one loose cannon on Labors good ship has sent the middle rushing away from us*.
Maths speaks louder than words, get ten who have no intention of leaving the ship on your side.
See hundreds flee says the man was wrong/his words say he was wrong/ polls will remind us, *his actions not refugees became the only story in town*.

Foxy,

What Conroy and the rest of Labor are so frustrated about is that Campbell has shown that everything that Labor stated with regards to border protection was rubbish, and that what the coalition said was true. General Campbell made it crystal clear that releasing sensitive information on the operational issues will jeopardize the operation, and that he would not answer questions in this vein. Asking the same question 100 times will get the same answer.

Conroy to then be a complete douchebag and essentially call Campbell a liar is not his job and he should be fired or demoted for such unprofessional and disgusting behaviour.