[1] Garland had a distinguished military career, and attracted media attention by being outspoken on many controversial social issues, often antagonising the Keating government at the time.
In 1965, he commanded the 1st Special Air Service squadron against Indonesian forces in Borneo.
During the Vietnam War, he was second-in-command of the 7th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, and was appointed Australia's chief liaison officer to US forces.
[1] In one attempt to filibuster debate, Garland recounted his family's loyalty to the Crown beginning in medieval times.
Garland also opposed the construction of the Japanese funded technology city known as the Multifunction Polis (MFP).