Peter Dutton has ordered his department to stop pursuing a “woke agenda” after staff wore rainbow clothing for the International Day Against Homophobia Biphobia, Interphobia and Transphobia last week.
The Defence Minister confirmed to The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age that he ordered Defence Force Chief Angus Campbell and Secretary Greg Moriarty to issue a note ending events with “particular clothes in celebration” on Friday.
“I’ve been very clear to the chiefs that I will not tolerate discrimination. But we are not pursuing a woke agenda,” Peter Dutton said.
“Our task is to build up the morale in the Australian Defence Force and these woke agendas don’t help.”
The order came after staff were previously encouraged to celebrate IDAHOBIT by wearing rainbow clothing and ally pins to morning tea events.
“Defence ADF and APS employees are encouraged to acknowledge IDAHOBIT in a COVID-safe manner. Examples for activity include hosting morning teas, encouraging discussions regarding the importance of IDAHOBIT, raising awareness of LGBTI rights and wearing visible rainbow clothing or ally pins,” a note obtained by the SMH read.
The goal was to show “support for our lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) colleagues, friends and family by standing against prejudice and discrimination, and demonstrating inclusion”.
Meanwhile, the new note ordered by Dutton stated that staff should “not be putting effort” into matters that “distract” from their “primary mission to protect Australia’s national security interests”.
“To meet these important aims, changing language protocols and those events such as morning teas where personnel are encouraged to wear particular clothes in celebration … are not required and should cease,” the note said.
Unsurprisingly, Dutton’s decision has been met with backlash, with deputy national president of public sector union Brooke Muscat labelling him the “Federal Minister for Culture Wars”.
“If having a morning tea for reconciliation week, international women’s day or international day against homophobia is stopping our national security efforts then we have a real problem,” she said.
“This has Peter Dutton written all over it, the Federal Minister for Culture Wars.”
