BOB CAMPBELL'S WAR
Chapter 4 Campbell's war attracts TV coverage
Campbell decided to go the whole hog. He was due to leave the force on February 28 1982, the day Lewis celebrated his birthday. He still had not found a job and was about to join the ranks of the unemployed, he was worried about supporting his family and he was worried about their safety. But when he was approached by the ABC via Hooper, he decided he had to be brave enough to reveal what he knew on TV. That, surely, would result in something being done!
He recorded an interview with the ABC but secured a promise that none of it would go to air until he had seen it and OK'd it.
And then, as the winds he had generated were about to reach cyclonic intensity, his beloved father died.
Through Lewis's spies, Premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen was aware that accusations against his police force were about to be made. He knew Hooper and Campbell were involved. As well, in the last few weeks there had been
several stories which did not reflect well on the police or the Government. After Top Level Ted had eventually been fined $175 for drink driving, a man Hinze had appointed to the State's trotting board was
revealed to have a conviction for illegal SP betting. A woman who had been taken by police in a police car to a spot frequented by courting couples died when the car overturned on its way back to the city from bushland. The police driver was not breathalysed. Labor leader Keith Wright said a Queensland politician, police and a well-known businessman were controlling a multi-million dollar crime empire.
On March 2 the Premier decided to use a tactic which had worked successfully in the past. It had been especially effective back in 1979 when the Opposition had been mounting its attack on links between Lewis, Murphy and
Hallahan and Parliamentarians and drugs. He would surprise the Opposition by getting in first, hopefully catching them before they were ready.
At the start of the day's Parliamentary business Joh moved that standing orders be suspended so that the Opposition could table whatever documents they had to support their "allegations, innuendoes and smears".
Hooper raised the Lyons affair. Halfway through his speech he accused Hinze of betting with SP bookies. "I must say that it is well known on the coast that he is recognised as being, if I may use racing parlance, in the bag of some well-known SP bookies in Southport." He went on to say Doumany had been quoted as promising an inquiry into the sordid affair. "Why has that inquiry not been completed? I will tell the House why nothing has been done. The Minister knows as well as I do that any fair dinkum inquiry would recommend that
criminal charges be laid against Commissioner Lewis and Sir Edward Lyons."
Then he tipped a bucket on Lewis saying: "I think he is a corrupt crook and should be booted unceremoniously out of the police force."
And he said: "The actions of the Government in attempting to cover up this matter by not ordering an inquiry are despicable and extremely corrupt. The Government has once again shown its contempt for the people of
Queensland because graft and corruption are endemic in the Bjelke-Petersen Government."
He went on: "It is a sad day for Queensland when a member of the Opposition has to rise in this chamber and call for the resignation of the Police Commissioner. As I have already pointed out, Mr Lewis has broken his oath
of office and no longer commands the respect of the people of Queensland or of the officers of the Queensland Police Force."
Bjelke-Petersen jumped to his feet: "I rise to a point of order. I am not going to allow such allegations to go into Hansard without their being repudiated. The words that the honourable member has spoken about the
Commissioner of Police are completely unjustifiable and undeserved. I want to record my attitude in Hansard and say how fortunate Queensland is to have a man such as Mr Lewis as the head of the Queensland Police
Force.
Hooper continued: "Recent events suggest that a royal commission to investigate the Queensland Police Force is urgently needed."
Bjelke-Petersen interrupted again: "The Government will not accept all his airy-fairy statements as evidence of corruption. Queensland is lucky to have the best police force in Australia."
And on the Lyons affair, Bjelke-Petersen said: "Sir Edward Lyons is a very good friend of mine, a man for whom I have the highest regard and respect. The same procedure was adopted in his case as would apply to any other
citizen."
Hinze stood to tell how the casinos run by organised crime on the State's premier tourist strip, the Gold Coast, were just friendly card games among friends. He had a police report which said: "The persons involved are very limited in number and well-known to each other. There is no evidence of a percentage of the stake being taken by a particular person. Hence the unlawfulness of any game cannot be established."
Hinze then became more personal in his attack. The grossly overweight, bejowled minister said of Hooper and the honest cops: "I know that the honourable member has two friends or informers. I will name them shortly. In
the honourable member's language I think they are called 'dogs'."
Hinze was absolutely correct. The dishonest cops called anyone who ratted on them a dog.
Bjelke-Petersen said of Hooper's attack: "It is obvious that the honourable member could not conceal his bitterness towards the police force. He made accusations against Mr Terry Lewis, one of the greatest police
commissioners that this State has had. I take my hat off to the Queensland Police Force. It is the greatest police force in Australia. The honourable member is completely unfair in his continued attack on a man who has done so much for Queensland. Sir Edward Lyons is one of the greatest employers in the nation. He has approximately
25,000 employed in organisations under his control. Sir Edwards Lyons is a man for whom I have every respect. He has been a very good friend to me over a long period. I am proud to say that, even though he has criticised our police force."
All this was too much for Hooper. His booming voice drowned out the Premier once more as he interrupted in
scorn.
"Order!" came the voice of the Speaker. "On numerous occasions I have warned the honourable member for Archerfield under standing order 123A but he has been disinclined to accept my advice. I now ask him to withdraw from the Chamber."
Under Parliamentary protocol Hooper had no option but to leave." National Party members could now talk about the wonderful police force without worrying about rude and pointed interjections.
Newspaper reports quoted the police union's Merv Callaghan as having the fullest confidence in Lewis and that the union believed there was no truth in the allegations surrounding Lyons.
The tide of events persuaded Nationwide that it was now or never when it came to the expose on police corruption. Despite what Campbell understood to be a firm promise on consultation, the ABC decided to screen the program on March 3.
That night viewers were offered a choice: The Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders; part two of Goliath Awaits; Cop Shop, which was police fiction; or the ABC's Nationwide, which featured the real life drama of corruption in the
Queensland police force. Most viewers went for the American froth. Of those who were interested in police drama, most chose the fiction of Cop Shop.
Apart from Bob Campbell, the ABC had also persuaded another former policeman, Kingsley Fancourt, to come forward to talk of corruption.
The anchorman announced: "Everyone tells their children 'If you get lost, ask a policeman'. It signifies the position of high trust the public has to have in its police force. That trust has now taken a beating in Queensland
and two former policemen, putting aside their personal fears and a war of intimidation which has been waged against them, present their case tonight for your judgement. Allen Hall reports."
Hall said: "Last Sunday, Brisbane policeman Senior Constable Bob Campbell, after 13 years’ service, resigned from the Queensland police. His motive was the same one that drove Ray Whitrod from office - despair at the level of corruption among the ranks of Queensland's men in blue."
Then Campbell was on. Full of nerves and apprehension, he said: "In the Queensland Police Force there is a high level of corruption. The actual organisers of the illegal casinos, massage parlours and even the drug trade have
a very heavy involvement and a very heavy representation by members of the police force."
Interviewer: "What! Are you suggesting that senior policemen are actually masterminding most of the criminal activity in this State?"
Campbell: "Undoubtedly. I think the Queensland public have also had to realise that the other States seem to occasionally come up with a Mr Big, er, in the drug trade, etc. Queensland seems very remiss in so far that occasionally you tend to find some minor (cough!) some, excuse me, some minor, er, drug pusher or the like, but we don't ever seem to come up with the Mr Bigs and the only reason we don't come up with the Mr Bigs is that Mr Bigs are entrepreneur businessmen in this State working completely in conjunction with senior police officers."
The link man asked: "But how can those senior policemen act as masterminds criminally? How can they
flourish?"
"It can flourish because they have the full protection of the National Party in this State," said Campbell. "In fact, senior politicians are involved and are prepared to cover up simply because I believe that the special branch has a number of dossiers on just about all cabinet ministers and other senior politicians in this State. They are afraid to open their mouths."
Then there was footage of Hinze saying: "I don't know of any illegal gambling." And, threateningly: "There's no
protection money being paid and if anybody says it's going on, I say emphatically I don't believe you."
Over footage of sin spots in Fortitude Valley and a brothel at 121 Brunswick St, it was recalled that Kev Hooper had named a host of illegal dens in Parliament.
Hooper told the camera: "Nothing has been done. This den is still operating unfettered and untrammelled without any fear whatsoever of prosecution by police. So it is quite obvious there have to be some police
officers on the take."
Then a prostitute told how she had been asked to pay protection money, had had money stolen from her purse and unit and also had clothing stolen from her - all by police. On one occasion she had gone to the police station and a detective had been wearing a new silk shirt stolen from her unit.
Back to Campbell who said: "Well, I know for a fact that from even my own observations and from what I overheard outside a gaming institution in Wickham St, Fortitude Valley, I heard two detectives, one of whom is well known to be heavily involved in dishonest practices, actually putting the word on a gaming keeper there for money. The gaming keeper seemed quite willing and when asked what protection he would have he mentioned two very senior police officers' names. (Bleep) and (bleep) were both mentioned as being the protection for this operation."
Their names were bleeped out as Campbell named the protectors.
He said the gaming keeper had since bribed other police to give him information on when raids were planned and in each instance had named the same senior officer as being his protector. That senior officer was more
commonly known as the Godfather of organised crime in Queensland, he said. "He's heavily involved in virtually every illegal activity in this state involving matters in which police could be protected."
Then, as the Fitzgerald Inquiry report was to recall: "The interviewer spoke of a group which allegedly had organised corruption, and described the group as 'what became known as the Rat Pack, the existence of which was revealed at the National Hotel Inquiry...It comprised three detectives, two of whom now hold very senior positions in the Queensland police.'"
Campbell said: "It still goes on...we've got a new rat pack in the police force...a new bunch...of detectives who are now collecting for this group.”
His wife described their fear and terror. And Bob appealed: "After all, what have I done wrong? I will - all I've tried to do is get a little bit of justice, not only for myself but for the people of Queensland...My crime is that I'm telling the truth. They know it's the truth. They can't answer it. All I have led is a decent, honest life and yet for this I have to live in terror. My family are in terror at the moment and, uh, what for? Are we going to get rid of the honest police officers so there can be a consensus just among the dishonest ones? Where are we headed in this State?"
Then Fancourt, told how he had tape-recorded a criminal offering him a bribe. The criminal had told him he was being protected by an officer who now held a senior position in the force. Fancourt went on to tell the story of
what had happened to one inspector who had made one raid too many on protected premises. "His dog was shot. His house was burgled, numerous late night phone calls and heavy breathing, threats that he'd be exterminated. How can a man, an ordinary everyday man with a family, live under these conditions?
What actions of reprisal will come against me now for going public and giving this information to you people?"
Interviewer: "But it's worth it."
Fancourt: "Well, time will tell that."
Would these revelations have the desired effect? Obviously, if the Government was fair dinkum about law and order and having the best police force it would act immediately: the Premier would be furious and demand action.
Next morning a frightened Campbell picked up The Courier-Mail. At the bottom of the front page of the broadsheet paper was a five-paragraph story which had Hooper saying: "This corroborates what I have been saying for the last six months. I don't think the Government has any choice but to hold a Royal Commission with wide terms of reference to investigate all the ramifications. The corruption is in the highest echelon of the force and it is difficult for the honest police officer to carry out his duties."
On page three there was a large story about the previous day's debate in Parliament which started with the line: "The Police Commissioner, Mr Lewis, said yesterday he had no intention of resigning after an attack on him in
Parliament by Mr Hooper (ALP Archerfield). "I deny the allegations," Mr Lewis said.
While Campbell fretted at home, Lewis turned up at his office at 7.40am and rang police minister Hinze regarding what he referred to as 'the attack on the police'. He discussed the program with senior officers later alleged to be corrupt and went with media official Ian Hatcher - who was to stay loyal to Lewis and his cohorts till the Fitzgerald Inquiry - to Parliament House. "Saw Hon Hinze and prepared Ministerial statement," he wrote in his diary entry for the day. He quite obviously had not been hauled over the coals. Instead, he had, according to his diary, helped the minister draw up a statement attacking Campbell and Fancourt.
Click here for chapter 5
He recorded an interview with the ABC but secured a promise that none of it would go to air until he had seen it and OK'd it.
And then, as the winds he had generated were about to reach cyclonic intensity, his beloved father died.
Through Lewis's spies, Premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen was aware that accusations against his police force were about to be made. He knew Hooper and Campbell were involved. As well, in the last few weeks there had been
several stories which did not reflect well on the police or the Government. After Top Level Ted had eventually been fined $175 for drink driving, a man Hinze had appointed to the State's trotting board was
revealed to have a conviction for illegal SP betting. A woman who had been taken by police in a police car to a spot frequented by courting couples died when the car overturned on its way back to the city from bushland. The police driver was not breathalysed. Labor leader Keith Wright said a Queensland politician, police and a well-known businessman were controlling a multi-million dollar crime empire.
On March 2 the Premier decided to use a tactic which had worked successfully in the past. It had been especially effective back in 1979 when the Opposition had been mounting its attack on links between Lewis, Murphy and
Hallahan and Parliamentarians and drugs. He would surprise the Opposition by getting in first, hopefully catching them before they were ready.
At the start of the day's Parliamentary business Joh moved that standing orders be suspended so that the Opposition could table whatever documents they had to support their "allegations, innuendoes and smears".
Hooper raised the Lyons affair. Halfway through his speech he accused Hinze of betting with SP bookies. "I must say that it is well known on the coast that he is recognised as being, if I may use racing parlance, in the bag of some well-known SP bookies in Southport." He went on to say Doumany had been quoted as promising an inquiry into the sordid affair. "Why has that inquiry not been completed? I will tell the House why nothing has been done. The Minister knows as well as I do that any fair dinkum inquiry would recommend that
criminal charges be laid against Commissioner Lewis and Sir Edward Lyons."
Then he tipped a bucket on Lewis saying: "I think he is a corrupt crook and should be booted unceremoniously out of the police force."
And he said: "The actions of the Government in attempting to cover up this matter by not ordering an inquiry are despicable and extremely corrupt. The Government has once again shown its contempt for the people of
Queensland because graft and corruption are endemic in the Bjelke-Petersen Government."
He went on: "It is a sad day for Queensland when a member of the Opposition has to rise in this chamber and call for the resignation of the Police Commissioner. As I have already pointed out, Mr Lewis has broken his oath
of office and no longer commands the respect of the people of Queensland or of the officers of the Queensland Police Force."
Bjelke-Petersen jumped to his feet: "I rise to a point of order. I am not going to allow such allegations to go into Hansard without their being repudiated. The words that the honourable member has spoken about the
Commissioner of Police are completely unjustifiable and undeserved. I want to record my attitude in Hansard and say how fortunate Queensland is to have a man such as Mr Lewis as the head of the Queensland Police
Force.
Hooper continued: "Recent events suggest that a royal commission to investigate the Queensland Police Force is urgently needed."
Bjelke-Petersen interrupted again: "The Government will not accept all his airy-fairy statements as evidence of corruption. Queensland is lucky to have the best police force in Australia."
And on the Lyons affair, Bjelke-Petersen said: "Sir Edward Lyons is a very good friend of mine, a man for whom I have the highest regard and respect. The same procedure was adopted in his case as would apply to any other
citizen."
Hinze stood to tell how the casinos run by organised crime on the State's premier tourist strip, the Gold Coast, were just friendly card games among friends. He had a police report which said: "The persons involved are very limited in number and well-known to each other. There is no evidence of a percentage of the stake being taken by a particular person. Hence the unlawfulness of any game cannot be established."
Hinze then became more personal in his attack. The grossly overweight, bejowled minister said of Hooper and the honest cops: "I know that the honourable member has two friends or informers. I will name them shortly. In
the honourable member's language I think they are called 'dogs'."
Hinze was absolutely correct. The dishonest cops called anyone who ratted on them a dog.
Bjelke-Petersen said of Hooper's attack: "It is obvious that the honourable member could not conceal his bitterness towards the police force. He made accusations against Mr Terry Lewis, one of the greatest police
commissioners that this State has had. I take my hat off to the Queensland Police Force. It is the greatest police force in Australia. The honourable member is completely unfair in his continued attack on a man who has done so much for Queensland. Sir Edward Lyons is one of the greatest employers in the nation. He has approximately
25,000 employed in organisations under his control. Sir Edwards Lyons is a man for whom I have every respect. He has been a very good friend to me over a long period. I am proud to say that, even though he has criticised our police force."
All this was too much for Hooper. His booming voice drowned out the Premier once more as he interrupted in
scorn.
"Order!" came the voice of the Speaker. "On numerous occasions I have warned the honourable member for Archerfield under standing order 123A but he has been disinclined to accept my advice. I now ask him to withdraw from the Chamber."
Under Parliamentary protocol Hooper had no option but to leave." National Party members could now talk about the wonderful police force without worrying about rude and pointed interjections.
Newspaper reports quoted the police union's Merv Callaghan as having the fullest confidence in Lewis and that the union believed there was no truth in the allegations surrounding Lyons.
The tide of events persuaded Nationwide that it was now or never when it came to the expose on police corruption. Despite what Campbell understood to be a firm promise on consultation, the ABC decided to screen the program on March 3.
That night viewers were offered a choice: The Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders; part two of Goliath Awaits; Cop Shop, which was police fiction; or the ABC's Nationwide, which featured the real life drama of corruption in the
Queensland police force. Most viewers went for the American froth. Of those who were interested in police drama, most chose the fiction of Cop Shop.
Apart from Bob Campbell, the ABC had also persuaded another former policeman, Kingsley Fancourt, to come forward to talk of corruption.
The anchorman announced: "Everyone tells their children 'If you get lost, ask a policeman'. It signifies the position of high trust the public has to have in its police force. That trust has now taken a beating in Queensland
and two former policemen, putting aside their personal fears and a war of intimidation which has been waged against them, present their case tonight for your judgement. Allen Hall reports."
Hall said: "Last Sunday, Brisbane policeman Senior Constable Bob Campbell, after 13 years’ service, resigned from the Queensland police. His motive was the same one that drove Ray Whitrod from office - despair at the level of corruption among the ranks of Queensland's men in blue."
Then Campbell was on. Full of nerves and apprehension, he said: "In the Queensland Police Force there is a high level of corruption. The actual organisers of the illegal casinos, massage parlours and even the drug trade have
a very heavy involvement and a very heavy representation by members of the police force."
Interviewer: "What! Are you suggesting that senior policemen are actually masterminding most of the criminal activity in this State?"
Campbell: "Undoubtedly. I think the Queensland public have also had to realise that the other States seem to occasionally come up with a Mr Big, er, in the drug trade, etc. Queensland seems very remiss in so far that occasionally you tend to find some minor (cough!) some, excuse me, some minor, er, drug pusher or the like, but we don't ever seem to come up with the Mr Bigs and the only reason we don't come up with the Mr Bigs is that Mr Bigs are entrepreneur businessmen in this State working completely in conjunction with senior police officers."
The link man asked: "But how can those senior policemen act as masterminds criminally? How can they
flourish?"
"It can flourish because they have the full protection of the National Party in this State," said Campbell. "In fact, senior politicians are involved and are prepared to cover up simply because I believe that the special branch has a number of dossiers on just about all cabinet ministers and other senior politicians in this State. They are afraid to open their mouths."
Then there was footage of Hinze saying: "I don't know of any illegal gambling." And, threateningly: "There's no
protection money being paid and if anybody says it's going on, I say emphatically I don't believe you."
Over footage of sin spots in Fortitude Valley and a brothel at 121 Brunswick St, it was recalled that Kev Hooper had named a host of illegal dens in Parliament.
Hooper told the camera: "Nothing has been done. This den is still operating unfettered and untrammelled without any fear whatsoever of prosecution by police. So it is quite obvious there have to be some police
officers on the take."
Then a prostitute told how she had been asked to pay protection money, had had money stolen from her purse and unit and also had clothing stolen from her - all by police. On one occasion she had gone to the police station and a detective had been wearing a new silk shirt stolen from her unit.
Back to Campbell who said: "Well, I know for a fact that from even my own observations and from what I overheard outside a gaming institution in Wickham St, Fortitude Valley, I heard two detectives, one of whom is well known to be heavily involved in dishonest practices, actually putting the word on a gaming keeper there for money. The gaming keeper seemed quite willing and when asked what protection he would have he mentioned two very senior police officers' names. (Bleep) and (bleep) were both mentioned as being the protection for this operation."
Their names were bleeped out as Campbell named the protectors.
He said the gaming keeper had since bribed other police to give him information on when raids were planned and in each instance had named the same senior officer as being his protector. That senior officer was more
commonly known as the Godfather of organised crime in Queensland, he said. "He's heavily involved in virtually every illegal activity in this state involving matters in which police could be protected."
Then, as the Fitzgerald Inquiry report was to recall: "The interviewer spoke of a group which allegedly had organised corruption, and described the group as 'what became known as the Rat Pack, the existence of which was revealed at the National Hotel Inquiry...It comprised three detectives, two of whom now hold very senior positions in the Queensland police.'"
Campbell said: "It still goes on...we've got a new rat pack in the police force...a new bunch...of detectives who are now collecting for this group.”
His wife described their fear and terror. And Bob appealed: "After all, what have I done wrong? I will - all I've tried to do is get a little bit of justice, not only for myself but for the people of Queensland...My crime is that I'm telling the truth. They know it's the truth. They can't answer it. All I have led is a decent, honest life and yet for this I have to live in terror. My family are in terror at the moment and, uh, what for? Are we going to get rid of the honest police officers so there can be a consensus just among the dishonest ones? Where are we headed in this State?"
Then Fancourt, told how he had tape-recorded a criminal offering him a bribe. The criminal had told him he was being protected by an officer who now held a senior position in the force. Fancourt went on to tell the story of
what had happened to one inspector who had made one raid too many on protected premises. "His dog was shot. His house was burgled, numerous late night phone calls and heavy breathing, threats that he'd be exterminated. How can a man, an ordinary everyday man with a family, live under these conditions?
What actions of reprisal will come against me now for going public and giving this information to you people?"
Interviewer: "But it's worth it."
Fancourt: "Well, time will tell that."
Would these revelations have the desired effect? Obviously, if the Government was fair dinkum about law and order and having the best police force it would act immediately: the Premier would be furious and demand action.
Next morning a frightened Campbell picked up The Courier-Mail. At the bottom of the front page of the broadsheet paper was a five-paragraph story which had Hooper saying: "This corroborates what I have been saying for the last six months. I don't think the Government has any choice but to hold a Royal Commission with wide terms of reference to investigate all the ramifications. The corruption is in the highest echelon of the force and it is difficult for the honest police officer to carry out his duties."
On page three there was a large story about the previous day's debate in Parliament which started with the line: "The Police Commissioner, Mr Lewis, said yesterday he had no intention of resigning after an attack on him in
Parliament by Mr Hooper (ALP Archerfield). "I deny the allegations," Mr Lewis said.
While Campbell fretted at home, Lewis turned up at his office at 7.40am and rang police minister Hinze regarding what he referred to as 'the attack on the police'. He discussed the program with senior officers later alleged to be corrupt and went with media official Ian Hatcher - who was to stay loyal to Lewis and his cohorts till the Fitzgerald Inquiry - to Parliament House. "Saw Hon Hinze and prepared Ministerial statement," he wrote in his diary entry for the day. He quite obviously had not been hauled over the coals. Instead, he had, according to his diary, helped the minister draw up a statement attacking Campbell and Fancourt.
Click here for chapter 5
