because of the number of endangered species in the area of the future mine, among them the incredibly rare night parrot. Minister for Human Services (2007) In January 2007, a cabinet reshuffle saw Campbell appointed Minister for Human Services, which was elevated to a cabinet position. However, on 3 March 2007, Campbell resigned after revelations he had met disgraced former Western Australian Premier Brian Burke. The resignation came in the midst of Liberal Party attacks on Opposition leader Kevin Rudd for also having met with Mr Burke, and was seen as a strategy to pressure and undermine Rudd. Prime Minister John Howard defended Campbell from charges of any moral wrongdoing, despite deputy leader Peter Costello's claim in Parliament that anyone who dealt with Brian Burke was morally compromised. Campbell announced his retirement from politics on 4 May 2007, saying that the Prime Minister had told him the door was still open for a return to the cabinet, but that he had decided to pursue a career in the private sector. The Liberal Party in Western Australia chose Mathias Cormann to take his place. Campbell formally resigned his Senate seat on 31 May 2007. References 1959 births Living people Liberal Party of Australia members of the Parliament of Australia Members of the Cabinet of Australia Members of the Australian Senate for Western Australia Members of the Australian Senate 21st-century Australian politicians 20th-century Australian politicians Government ministers of Australia Australian monarchists