(The Guardian) Defence minister overturns Dutton’s ban on staff pursuing 'woke agendas’
Richard Marles has torn up a Coalition-era ban on defence staff holding morning tea celebrations around some diversity and cultural events, with defence force chiefs saying they want to foster a “a diverse and inclusive workforce”.
In May 2021, the then defence minister Peter Dutton asked defence officials to issue a directive restricting special events that had “particular clothes in celebration”. That came after defence morning teas where staff were encouraged to wear rainbow pins or shirts for the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia and Transphobia.
Dutton told the Nine newspapers that defence should not be “pursuing a woke agenda” and that “our task is to build up the morale in the Australian Defence Force and these woke agendas don’t help”.
On Tuesday, the defence secretary Greg Moriarty and the chief of defence Gen Angus Campbell issued another directive to defence staff, saying that Marles, the deputy prime minister and defence minister have “instructed that this direction be lifted, with effect 23 August 2022”.
The department update was first reported by the Canberra Times.
The officials said such events “contribute to our inclusive culture by acknowledging and promoting awareness of our diverse workforce.” The note specifically mentioned “team activities in support of not-for-profit organisations, charity events, and upcoming days such as Wear it Purple and R U OK Day”. -- We look forward to working with all of you to build capability through fostering a diverse and inclusive workforce to deliver on Defence’s mission.
