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Ross Cameron

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The Honourable
Ross Cameron
Member of the Australian Parliament
for Parramatta
In office
2 March 1996 – 9 October 2004
Preceded byPaul Elliott
Succeeded byJulie Owens
President of the New South Wales Libertarian Party
Incumbent
Assumed office
28 January 2023
Preceded byDean McCrae
Personal details
Born (1965-05-14) 14 May 1965 (age 59)
Sydney
NationalityAustralian
Political partyLibertarian (since 2021)
Other political
affiliations		Liberal (before 2021)
RelationsJim Cameron (father)
Jock Cameron (brother)
OccupationLawyer

Ross Alexander Cameron (born 14 May 1965) is an Australian politician who was a Liberal member of the Australian House of Representatives from March 1996 to October 2004, representing the Division of Parramatta, New South Wales.

Between 2013 and 2018, he was a contributor and host at Sky News Live, including a controversial stint as a co-host of Outsiders, before his employment was terminated for racist remarks made on air.

Early life

The son of Jim Cameron, a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, he was born in Sydney, New South Wales, grew up in Turramurra in Sydney and was educated at Knox Grammar School and Sydney University. He was a lawyer before entering politics. He was policy adviser and research officer to the New South Wales Minister for Transport, Bruce Baird, and an intern to United States Republican Senator Mark Hatfield.[1]

Member of Parliament

Cameron was elected to parliament in the 1996 Federal election, winning the Division of Parramatta from the sitting Labor member Paul Elliott. A noted orator, he delivered his maiden speech to the House of Representatives without notes.[2] Cameron held the traditionally Labor seat of Parramatta for three terms.

While a member of parliament, Cameron was Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Family and Community Services from 2001 to 2003 and Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer (Peter Costello) 2003–2004.[3]

Cameron ran regular prayer meetings for politicians in his office in Parliament House.[4] He has also been associated with the American evangelical Christian organisation, The Fellowship.[5]

Mark Latham wrote of Ross Cameron in 1997: "Ross Cameron, the brilliant but creepy Liberal member for Parramatta, has talked me into participating in his youth leadership forum in Canberra. I rather suspect it's a front for mobilising Christian soldiers, plus some quality box for Ross".[6]

Cameron ran an eight-year campaign while in office against the Parliament House contemporary art collection.[7][8]

Extramarital affair

In August 2004, Cameron revealed in an interview in Good Weekend that he had an extramarital affair with an "exotic solicitor" while his wife was pregnant with twins.[9] Cameron "was a frequent overnight visitor to the house his mistress shared with a reporter".[10] In Truth Overboard, journalist Tom Dusevic wrote in Time magazine that once Cameron's story was in the public domain "...reporters in Canberra immediately ran with further details of Cameron's private life, unleashing stories they'd been sitting on for years" which included accounts of numerous other affairs which he had failed to disclose in the original interview with Good Weekend.[11][12][13]

The admission was considered to be the main reason why he lost his seat at the 2004 Federal election.[14][15] He was one of only three sitting coalition members to lose their seat at that election.

In 2011 Cameron said he may run for a seat at the next federal election and had discussed the matter with Opposition Leader Tony Abbott,[15] but this did not eventuate.

Post-parliament

After his departure from parliament, he joined Macquarie Bank's Investment Banking Group, working primarily on partnerships between the public and private sectors. He left Macquarie in 2008.[16]

Cameron was a founder and original board member of MyATM, along with three time undischarged bankrupt[17][18] Don Fleming (owing $24million in 2010),[19][20][21] Kym Weir, Tim Scala and Grant Chapman. According to The Business Spectator he bought 15,787,600 shares for $3,946,900 on 1 April 2010 and 2 April, becoming a substantial shareholder with 15,787,600 shares (7.52%). In a written statement outlining Fleming's involvement with the company, Mr Scala said: "Don Fleming founded My ATM jointly with Ross Cameron and myself"[20][22][23][24][25][26][27] Cameron resigned from the board of directors of MyATM four months after the public float, he remains on the board of Aussie ATM and My ATM New Zealand.[28][29][30][31][32]

From 2013 to 2018, Cameron was a regular contributor to programs on Sky News Australia. In July 2014, Cameron became a co-host alongside Kristina Keneally on weekly panel show The Contrarians every Friday afternoon, before the pair were given their own self-titled program Keneally and Cameron.[33] This program was axed in March 2015.[34] From 4 December 2016, Cameron began co-hosting Outsiders on Sky News.[35]

On a Sky News panel discussion of the Donald Trump Access Hollywood tape in October 2016, Cameron said the whole thing had made him even more pro-Trump and theatrically demonstrated his support by donning an official Trump slogan cap and removing his shirt to reveal an official Trump Pence campaign t-shirt.[36]

In February 2017, Cameron was reported to have spoken as a VIP member at a fundraiser for the far-right Q Society of Australia. In the article, his speech was characterised by having "constantly mentioned homosexuality", and is quoted to have said "The NSW division of the Liberal Party is basically a gay club... I don't mind that they are gay, I just wish, like Hadrian, they would build a wall."[37] His comments were condemned by Sky News colleagues including David Speers, Peter van Onselen and Kristina Keneally.[38]

Also in February 2017, Cameron was suspended by the Liberal Party's NSW state executive for four-and-a-half years, after he gave an interview to the ABC's 7.30 Report in which he referred to Liberal Party processes as "corrupt" and called the party "basically a gay club".[39][40]

Cameron was sacked by Sky News on 2 November 2018, after making racist remarks on Outsiders.[41]

In 2021, Cameron joined the Liberal Democrats.[42][43]

References

  1. ^ ""Bring Your Spike" – Your Difference is Your Edge". Professional Development Forum. Retrieved 19 August 2019.
  2. ^ "The right thing". The Age. Melbourne, Australia. 14 August 2004. Retrieved 5 May 2011.
  3. ^ "Biography for CAMERON, the Hon. Ross Alexander". Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 5 May 2011.
  4. ^ "In God They Trust". The Sydney Morning Herald. 12 April 2004. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
  5. ^ "The Religion Report – 3 September 2008 – Elite Fundamentism – The Fellowship's gospel of Capitalist Power". Australia: ABC. 3 September 2008. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
  6. ^ Mark Latham (2005). The Latham Diaries. Melbourne Univ. Publishing. p. 57. ISBN 978-0-522-85215-8.
  7. ^ "Just Say No To Art". The Art Life. 13 April 2004. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
  8. ^ "7.30 Report – 07/04/2004: Art collection questioned". Australia: ABC. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
  9. ^ "Liberals' dilemma as Cameron fights on". The Sun-Herald. 22 August 2004.
  10. ^ "Campbell's outing: public has a right to know the truth". The Australian. 21 May 2010.
  11. ^ Dusevic, Tom (25 August 2004). "Truth Overboard". Time. Archived from the original on 31 July 2008. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
  12. ^ Kerr, Christian (29 August 2011). "It's not sex but lies that cause trouble". The Australian. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
  13. ^ "The former flatmate of the woman yesterday recalled Mr Cameron showering and dressing himself in the bathroom of the apartment on at least two occasions in winter 2001. At other times, Mr Cameron could be found in the kitchen making coffee. The MP was unaware his lover shared the apartment with a reporter. At the time of the affair the woman worked as a Commonwealth DPP solicitor. She has moved to Washington. The pair hit it off when Mr Cameron revealed he had trained as a solicitor and worked for top firm Blake Dawson Waldron. "How MP betrayed his pregnant wife Telegraph 17 August 2004
  14. ^ "Parramatta - Federal Election 2007 - ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 9 June 2023.
  15. ^ a b Scandal MP Ross Cameron plans a return to politics, The Daily Telegraph, 14 September 2011
  16. ^ "Macquarie: government by private enterprise". The Sydney Morning Herald. 21 August 2006. Retrieved 7 June 2011.
  17. ^ "Serial bankrupt winds up again". The Advertiser. Adelaide. 5 March 2012.
  18. ^ http://www.prospectindaily.com.au/?iid=60437&startpage=page0000001#folio=2 [bare URL]
  19. ^ http://flindersindaily.flinders.edu.au/default.aspx?iid=60435&startpage=page0000002#folio=2 [bare URL]
  20. ^ a b Hunt, Nigel (6 June 2010). "Bankrupt in link to Port Adelaide sponsor". The Advertiser. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
  21. ^ "Mr Fleming, who in 1990 was referred to in State Parliament as a "criminal" by then-Treasurer Stephen Baker, has previously been at the centre of Australian Securities and Investments Commission investigations and Australian Taxation Department investigations." In 1987, he was declared bankrupt with about $10 million in debts and in 1989 he was charged, and acquitted, of $25 million in tax avoidance in connection with a Tasmanian scallop boat fleet investment. In 2005, 10 companies run by Mr Fleming and his wife collapsed, leaving investors, including mums and dads, businesses and banks, $17 million out of pocket. The companies were involved in commercial property investments, grape seed crushing, pistachio farms and coconut plantations. The revelation that Mr Fleming has once again emerged as a major player in the business world has also prompted warnings from those who have lost money in his previous ventures." http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/bankrupt-in-link-to-port-adelaide-sponsor/story-e6frea83-1225875941652
  22. ^ "Bankrupt linked to Power". The Advertiser. Adelaide. 5 June 2010.
  23. ^ "Financial Review – News Store". The Sydney Morning Herald. 30 July 2010. Retrieved 17 October 2011.The company was initially banned by the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) from public release on the Australian stock exchange after queries concerning the viability and public interest in the company as well as the claim of a 20% projected profit guarantee for investors
  24. ^ http://www.ecommercereport.com.au/?p=1067 [bare URL]
  25. ^ "Former MP Cameron a right loser". The Daily Telegraph. Australia. 20 May 2011.
  26. ^ "Tough withdrawal for My ATM". Afr.com. Retrieved 17 October 2011.On eventually floating in January 2011, the MyATM share price fell from its open of .21c to .009c in the first seven months of trading, losing investors millions of dollars.
  27. ^ Tabakoff, Nick (21 May 2011). "Cashflow concern on My ATM". The Daily Telegraph. Australia. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
  28. ^ "Board Members". Archived from the original on 14 May 2010. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
  29. ^ "Former mp Ross Cameron a right loser". October 2011.
  30. ^ "Share Price & Information - ASX". asx.com.au.
  31. ^ "Former Port Adelaide sponsor in administration". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 6 December 2011.
  32. ^ On 6 December 2011 My ATM appointed a voluntary administrator to take control of the company's assets, including those of its wholly owned subsidiaries Aussie ATM's Pty Limited and MYATM Pty Limited.
  33. ^ "Former NSW Premier Kristina Keneally reveals her long-held TV dream, as she gets her own show". News Corp Australia. 18 September 2014. Retrieved 20 September 2014.
  34. ^ Knox, David (11 April 2015). "Sky News resting Keneally and Cameron". TV Tonight. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
  35. ^ Knox, David (21 November 2016). "Airdate: Outsiders". TV Tonight. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  36. ^ Robin, Myriam (11 October 2016). "Ross Cameron says our fertility rate is falling because men can't objectify women anymore". Crikey. Retrieved 11 October 2016.
  37. ^ Maley, Jacqueline (10 February 2017). "Inside the far-right Q Society's explosive dinner, where Muslims are fair game". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 10 February 2017.
  38. ^ "Another inappropriate rant by Ross". Media Watch. ABC. 13 February 2017. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
  39. ^ Patrick, Aaron (16 February 2017). "Liberal ex-MP who called party a 'gay club' likely to be kicked out". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 2 November 2018.
  40. ^ McNally, Lucy (29 April 2017). "Former federal MP Ross Cameron loses bid to have Liberal Party suspension overturned". ABC Online. Retrieved 2 November 2018.
  41. ^ Loomes, Phoebe (2 November 2018). "Sky News commentator sacked over on-air racism". news.com.au. Retrieved 2 November 2018.
  42. ^ https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/exhoward-ally-ross-cameron-leads-new-senate-push/news-story/5e3ac1a0eb9212d1a8671e0f12413430 [bare URL]
  43. ^ Davies, Anne (27 July 2021). "Rightwing Australian politicians use Covid lockdowns to promote challenge to Liberal party". The Guardian.
Parliament of Australia
Preceded by Member for Parramatta
1996–2004 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer
2003–2004 		Succeeded by
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