branch commands nationality name honorific_suffix rank image article_title birth_name occupation
australian army special air service regiment australian jim wallace am brigadier australian am.jpg christian lobby , managing director , jim wallace jim wallace -lrb- australia -rrb-
 james john arundel wallace christian lobbyist
jim wallace -lrb- australia -rrb-

james john arundel `` jim '' wallace am is a retired australian army officer and a current lobbyist on social issues .
wallace was the managing director of the australian christian lobby from 2000 to 2013 .
he is now the deputy chairman of that organisation .
wallace studied at the royal military college , duntroon and the british army staff college .
he served in the australian army for 32 years , reaching the rank of brigadier .
his service included command of the special air service regiment , for which he was made a member of the order of australia in 1984 .
wallace has publicly expressed opposition to women in combat and changing the marriage act of australia .
several of his public comments , particularly those about homosexuality , have attracted criticism .
writing in the `` herald sun '' , journalist miranda devine has said that wallace `` has copped more than his fair share of abuse when it comes to defending traditional marriage '' .
wallace has raised concerns about violent video games .
`` the sydney morning herald '' reported that wallace `` suggested a homosexual lifestyle was more hazardous to health than smoking . ''
in response julia gillard , the prime minister of australia at the time , called wallace 's comments `` heartless '' , `` wrong '' and `` totally unacceptable '' .
on 4 may 2012 , wallace appeared before the australian senate , legal and constitutional affairs legislation committee during their consideration of the `` marriage equality amendment bill 2010 '' where he presented to the committee his arguments , `` in support of the definition of marriage '' .
following a return visit to syria , in 2013 , to assess the situation for the minorities in the syrian conflict , wallace said that the vulnerable christians there will face even worse persecution than that experienced by egypt 's coptic christians .
saying that the west 's policy for the middle east `` courts a disaster '' , he urged the west to take decisive action to protect syria 's christians .
wallace also commentates on defence and security issues , having lived in the middle east where he served with the united nations in lebanon and syria .
his order of australia was for services to counter-terrorism and is currently a ministerial appointee to the council of the australian strategic policy institute .
