NSW:Campbell says 'treachery,disloyalty' used to oust him:report

AAP General News (Australia)
04-26-2007
NSW:Campbell says 'treachery,disloyalty' used to oust him:report

SYDNEY, April 26 AAP - NSW Labor senator George Campbell has cited the "gross treachery
and disloyalty" of the union boss Doug Cameron as a reason for his decision to retire
from politics, it was reported today.

Senator Campbell will announce today he will not seek pre-selection next month for
the federal election and will leave the senate when his term expires in 2008, Fairfax
newspapers report.

His spot on the NSW Labor senate ticket will be filled by Mr Cameron, the national
secretary of the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU), who long ago stitched
up the numbers in the NSW Left to depose Senator Campbell.

Senator Campbell preceded Mr Cameron as the national secretary of the AMWU.

He was elected to the senate in 1998 and will be 65 when his term expires.

He said his decision had also been influenced by his age.

"With Labor on the cusp of winning government, I believe now is the time for the party
to encourage generational change," Senator Campbell told Fairfax.

"The second factor influencing my decision is the way in which some colleagues in my
old union, the AMWU, behaved in the lead-up to the current preselection."

He said of Mr Cameron: "I do think the way he went about doing this was a gross act
of treachery and disloyalty."

Senator Campbell said Mr Cameron's actions were more hurtful given he had mentored
Mr Cameron in the AMWU.

Mr Cameron declined to comment on Senator Campbell's assessment of his character.

"George Campbell has had a very good career as a union official and as a parliamentarian,"

he said.

"I have got no criticism of him."

AAP vpm/srp

KEYWORD: SENATOR

2007 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.