Source: Defence.gov.au

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott named Angus Campbell as head of a border protection operation to stop the entry of asylum-seeker boats into Australia. Mr Campbell is one of the country's most experienced soldiers, being the deputy chief of army.

He was also deputy National Security Adviser and SAS commander. He will head Operation Sovereign Borders, which means his appointment is also a promotion to lieutenant general from major general.

His job involves coordination 16 departments and agencies under the Operation Sovereign Borders policy, granting Mr Campbell the power to bypass normal Defence Force command structures. He will report directly to new Immigration Minister Scott Morrison.

His military experience includes serving as commander of Australian military operations in the Middle East. He also served in East Timor.

"It will start to make a difference from day one. It will steadily be put into effect and I am confident we can stop the boats," Mr Campbell said at a press conference earlier this week.

Source: Megoracle.com

The task before hand is definitely challenging since in the past 10 days since Mr Abbott won the Sept 7 federal election, about 475 asylum seekers have arrived on seven boats.

Mr Abbott is expected to tackle Australia's new asylum policy with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono when he visits Jakarta on Sept 30. Indonesia has rejected some parts of the new Australian government's policy, particularly the purchase of surplus boats from Indonesian fishermen and payment to local villagers for information about people smugglers.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa warned these two initiatives would violate the country's sovereignty and damage its partnership with Australia in controlling the problem of asylum seekers.

Meanwhile, acting Labor leader Chris Bowen criticised the Abbott government's new asylum seeker policy.

"This is a recipe frankly for ongoing problems in relation to boats arriving in Australia, it's receipt for ongoing dispute with Indonesia about this issue," Brisbane Times quoted Mr Bowen.