Ross Cameron
{{short description|Australian politician|bot=PearBOT 5}}
{{pp-semi-protected|small=yes}}
{{Use Australian English|date=October 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix = The Honourable
| name = Ross Cameron
| honorific-suffix =
| image = Ross_Cameron.png
| constituency_MP = Parramatta
| parliament = Australian
| majority =
| predecessor = Paul Elliott
| successor = Julie Owens
| term_start = 2 March 1996
| term_end = 9 October 2004
| office2 = President of the New South Wales Libertarian Party
| successor2 =
| term_start2 = 28 January 2023
| term_end2 =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1965|5|14}}
| birth_place = Sydney
| death_date =
| death_place =
| nationality = Australian
| spouse =
| party = Libertarian (since 2021)
|otherparty = Liberal (until 2021)
| relations = Jim Cameron (father)
Jock Cameron (brother)
| children =
| residence =
| alma_mater =
| occupation = Lawyer
| profession =
| religion =
| signature =
| website =
| footnotes =
}}
Ross Alexander Cameron (born 14 May 1965) is an Australian politician who was a Liberal Party member of the Australian House of Representatives from 1996 until 2004, representing the division of Parramatta.
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.
Since 2023, Cameron has served as the president of the New South Wales Libertarian Party.
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.{{Cite web|url=http://professionaldevelopmentforum.org/event/bring-your-spike-your-difference-is-your-edge/|title="Bring Your Spike" – Your Difference is Your Edge|website=Professional Development Forum|access-date=2019-08-19}}
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.{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/General/The-right-thing/2004/12/03/1101923275265.html|title=The right thing|work=The Age |date=14 August 2004|accessdate=5 May 2011|location=Melbourne, Australia}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22handbook%2Fallmps%2F3K6%22|title=Biography for CAMERON, the Hon. Ross Alexander|publisher=Parliament of Australia|accessdate=5 May 2011}}
Cameron ran regular prayer meetings for politicians in his office in Parliament House.{{cite news|url=https://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/04/11/1081621834807.html |title=In God They Trust |date=12 April 2004 |accessdate=20 March 2011 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald}} He has also been associated with the American evangelical Christian organisation, The Fellowship.{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/rn/religionreport/stories/2008/2353921.htm |title=The Religion Report – 3 September 2008 – Elite Fundamentism – The Fellowship's gospel of Capitalist Power |publisher=ABC |location=Australia |date=3 September 2008 |accessdate=17 October 2011}}
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".{{cite book|author=Mark Latham|title=The Latham Diaries|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=y37tVHOGWSoC&pg=PA57|year=2005|publisher=Melbourne Univ. Publishing|isbn=978-0-522-85215-8|page=57}}
Cameron ran an eight-year campaign while in office against the Parliament House contemporary art collection.{{cite web|url=http://theartlife.com.au/?p=47 |title=Just Say No To Art |publisher=The Art Life |date=13 April 2004 |accessdate=17 October 2011}}{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2004/s1083488.htm |title=7.30 Report – 07/04/2004: Art collection questioned |publisher=ABC |location=Australia |accessdate=17 October 2011}}
=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.{{cite news | title=Liberals' dilemma as Cameron fights on | work=The Sun-Herald | date=22 August 2004| url=https://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/08/21/1092972819021.html}} Cameron "was a frequent overnight visitor to the house his mistress shared with a reporter".{{cite news|title=Campbell's outing: public has a right to know the truth|work=The Australian|date=21 May 2010}} 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.{{cite magazine|last=Dusevic |first=Tom |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,687519,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080731033741/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,687519,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=31 July 2008 |title=Truth Overboard |magazine=Time |date=25 August 2004 |accessdate=17 October 2011}}{{cite news|last=Kerr |first=Christian |url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/media/its-not-sex-but-lies-that-cause-trouble/story-e6frg996-1226124022801 |title=It's not sex but lies that cause trouble |work=The Australian |date=29 August 2011 |accessdate=17 October 2011}}"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
The admission was considered to be the main reason why he lost his seat at the 2004 Federal election.{{Cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/elections/federal/2007/guide/parr.htm|title=Parramatta - Federal Election 2007 - ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)|date=9 June 2023 |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation}}[http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/scandal-mp-ross-cameron-plans-a-return-to-politics/news-story/159262f0309a1a249adc66c11c50c1c4?sv=386607a5b679efae7cd8f18e8f0ba1be Scandal MP Ross Cameron plans a return to politics], The Daily Telegraph, 14 September 2011 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, 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.{{cite news|url=https://www.smh.com.au/news/business/macquarie-government-by-private-enterprise/2006/08/20/1156012410143.html?page=fullpage|title=Macquarie: government by private enterprise|date=21 August 2006|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|accessdate=7 June 2011}}
Cameron was a founder and original board member of MyATM, along with three time undischarged bankrupt{{Cite web|url=https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/business/sa-business-journal/serial-bankrupt-winds-up-again-with-debts-of-24m/news-story/2551f79fd7e6e1f9a27c18053a667c01|title=Serial bankrupt winds up again|date=5 March 2012|website=The Advertiser|location=Adelaide}}{{Cite web |title=Start Page |url=http://www.prospectindaily.com.au/?iid=60437&startpage=page0000001#folio=2 |access-date=June 2, 2025 |website=www.prospectindaily.com.au}} Don Fleming (owing $24million in 2010),{{Cite web |title=Flinders Indaily : March 9th 2012, Page 2 |url=http://flindersindaily.flinders.edu.au/default.aspx?iid=60435&startpage=page0000002#folio=2 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20130429205912/http://flindersindaily.flinders.edu.au/default.aspx?iid=60435&startpage=page0000002 |archive-date=2013-04-29 |access-date=2025-04-07 |website=flindersindaily.flinders.edu.au}}{{cite web|last=Hunt |first=Nigel |url=http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/bankrupt-in-link-to-port-adelaide-sponsor/story-e6frea83-1225875941652 |title=Bankrupt in link to Port Adelaide sponsor |work=The Advertiser|date=6 June 2010 |accessdate=17 October 2011}}{{Cite news |title=Bankrupt linked to Power |url=http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/bankrupt-in-link-to-port-adelaide-sponsor/story-e6frea83-1225875941652 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20181004163647/https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/bankrupt-in-link-to-port-adelaide-sponsor/story-e6frea83-1225875941652 |archive-date=2018-10-04 |access-date=2025-04-07 |language=en}} Kym Weir, Tim Scala and Grant Chapman. According to [http://www.businessspectator.com.au/bs.nsf/Article/Ross-Cameron-has-752-of-My-ATM-Holdings-D48RT?OpenDocument&Src=rss&Click= 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"{{Cite web|url=https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/bankrupt-in-link-to-port-adelaide-sponsor/news-story/bac62201c7e105426c73cbf81e82a2e2|title=Bankrupt linked to Power|date=5 June 2010|website=The Advertiser|location=Adelaide}}{{cite news|url=http://newsstore.smh.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac;jsessionid=A37E2CC3685241E97BE2902F24D101C3?sy=afr&pb=all_ffx&dt=selectRange&dr=1month&so=relevance&sf=text&sf=headline&rc=10&rm=200&sp=brs&cls=206&clsPage=1&docID=SMH1007309M4VD7K2JMK |title=Financial Review – News Store |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=30 July 2010 |accessdate=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{{Cite web|url=http://www.ecommercereport.com.au/?p=1067|title=My ATM float still alive despite ASIC stop order « eCommerce Report|website=www.ecommercereport.com.au}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/former-mp-ross-cameron-a-right-loser/news-story/850112cab4216b1edc38348b93826507|title=Former MP Cameron a right loser|date=20 May 2011|website=The Daily Telegraph|location=Australia}}{{cite web|url=http://afr.com/p/business/technology/tough_withdrawal_for_my_atm_eYt94As2eJ3vNf2izxgOeM |title=Tough withdrawal for My ATM |publisher=Afr.com |accessdate=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.{{cite web|last=Tabakoff |first=Nick |url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/cashflow-worry-as-investors-drop-my-atm/story-fn6e1lzz-1226059902531 |title=Cashflow concern on My ATM|work=The Daily Telegraph |location=Australia |date=21 May 2011 |accessdate=17 October 2011}} 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.{{Cite web |url=http://www.myatmnz.co.nz/myatm-board-members.html |title=Board Members |access-date=8 January 2012 |archive-date=14 May 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100514032254/http://www.myatmnz.co.nz/myatm-board-members.html |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=http://www.news.com.au/former-mp-ross-cameron-a-right-loser/story-e6freuzi-1226059954388 | title=Former mp Ross Cameron a right loser|date=October 2011}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.asx.com.au/asx/share-price-research/company/MYA|title=Share Price & Information - ASX|website=asx.com.au}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-12-07/my-atm-administration-port-adelaide-sponsor/3716552|title=Former Port Adelaide sponsor in administration|date=6 December 2011|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation}}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.
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.{{cite web|url=http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/former-nsw-premier-kristina-keneally-reveals-her-longheld-tv-dream-as-she-gets-her-own-show/story-e6frfmyi-1227062748229|title=Former NSW Premier Kristina Keneally reveals her long-held TV dream, as she gets her own show|work=News Corp Australia|date=18 September 2014|accessdate=20 September 2014}} This program was axed in March 2015.{{cite web|publisher=TV Tonight|first=David|last=Knox|url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2015/04/sky-news-resting-keneally-and-cameron.html|title=Sky News resting Keneally and Cameron|date=11 April 2015 |accessdate=11 April 2015}} From 4 December 2016, Cameron began co-hosting Outsiders on Sky News.{{cite web|url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2016/11/airdate-outsiders.html|title=Airdate: Outsiders|date=21 November 2016|accessdate=21 November 2016|first=David|last=Knox|work=TV Tonight}}
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.{{cite news |last=Robin |first=Myriam |url=https://www.crikey.com.au/2016/10/11/ross-cameron-praises-the-donald-on-sky/ |title=Ross Cameron says our fertility rate is falling because men can't objectify women anymore |work=Crikey |date=2016-10-11 |accessdate=2016-10-11 }}
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."{{Cite news|url=https://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/inside-the-far-right-q-society-explosive-dinner-where-muslims-are-fair-game-20170210-gu9xo8.html|title=Inside the far-right Q Society's explosive dinner, where Muslims are fair game|last=Maley|first=Jacqueline|date=2017-02-10|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=2017-02-10}} His comments were condemned by Sky News colleagues including David Speers, Peter van Onselen and Kristina Keneally.{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/mediawatch/transcripts/s4617061.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170214004055/http://www.abc.net.au/mediawatch/transcripts/s4617061.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=14 February 2017|title=Another inappropriate rant by Ross|work=Media Watch|publisher=ABC|date=13 February 2017|accessdate=14 February 2017}}
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".{{cite news|url=https://www.afr.com/news/politics/national/liberal-exmp-who-called-party-a-gay-club-likely-to-be-kicked-out-20170214-gucthz|title=Liberal ex-MP who called party a 'gay club' likely to be kicked out|last=Patrick|first=Aaron|date=16 February 2017|work=Australian Financial Review|accessdate=2 November 2018}}{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-04-29/liberals-suspension-of-ross-cameron-remains/8483012|title=Former federal MP Ross Cameron loses bid to have Liberal Party suspension overturned|last=McNally|first=Lucy|work=ABC Online|date=29 April 2017|accessdate=2 November 2018}}
Cameron was sacked by Sky News on 2 November 2018, after making racist remarks on Outsiders.{{cite web|url=https://www.news.com.au/finance/business/media/sky-news-commentator-sacked-over-onair-racism/news-story/e860d8002f367d7ce90ea211d073865a|title=Sky News commentator sacked over on-air racism|work=news.com.au|first=Phoebe|last=Loomes|accessdate=2 November 2018|date=2 November 2018}}
In 2021, Cameron joined the Liberal Democrats.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/exhoward-ally-ross-cameron-leads-new-senate-push/news-story/5e3ac1a0eb9212d1a8671e0f12413430|title=Ex-Howard ally leads new Senate push|date=26 July 2021}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/jul/27/rightwing-australian-politicians-use-covid-lockdowns-to-promote-challenge-to-liberal-party|title=Rightwing Australian politicians use Covid lockdowns to promote challenge to Liberal party|first=Anne|last=Davies|date=27 July 2021|newspaper=The Guardian}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/life/the-right-thing-20140917-109h5u.html 2004 Good Weekend article on Cameron]
{{S-start}}
{{s-par|au}}
{{Succession box| title=Member for Parramatta | before= Paul Elliott | after= Julie Owens | years=1996–2004}}
{{S-bef|before=Ian Campbell}}
{{s-ttl|title= Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer | years= 2003–2004}}
{{S-aft|after= Chris Pearce}}
{{S-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cameron, Ross}}
Category:People educated at Knox Grammar School
Category:Liberal Party of Australia members of the Parliament of Australia
Category:Politicians from Sydney
Category:Members of the Australian House of Representatives
Category:Members of the Australian House of Representatives for Parramatta
Category:Sky News Australia reporters and presenters
Category:Government ministers of Australia
Category:Australian MPs 1996–1998