Peter Dutton has ordered an end to “woke” morning teas that celebrate diversity, after staff wore rainbow clothing for the International Day Against Homophobia Biphobia, Interphobia and Transphobia last Monday.
Dutton told the Sydney Morning Herald that on Friday he ordered Defence Force Chief Angus Campbell and Secretary Greg Moriarty to issue a note banning events which required “particular clothes” to be worn.
“I’ve been very clear to the chiefs that I will not tolerate discrimination. But we are not pursuing a woke agenda,” Dutton said.
“Our task is to build up the morale in the Australian Defence Force and these woke agendas don’t help.”
This comes after a note obtained by the SMH was sent around to the same department earlier this year, asking staff to mark IDAHOBIT in their calendars and attend a morning tea in rainbow clothing and ally pins.
“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,” the note read.
Of course, Dutton’s directive has been met with immense backlash from people online and the public sector union.
“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,” deputy national president of public sector union Brooke Muscat said.
“This has Peter Dutton written all over it, the Federal Minister for Culture Wars.”
Senator Penny Wong also chimed in on the matter, and suggested that maybe Dutton needs to shift his focus to the more important issues facing Australians.
“Instead of fighting culture wars Peter Dutton needs to focus on defending Australia and the values we have collectively affirmed,” Wong said.
Instead of fighting culture wars Peter Dutton needs to focus on defending Australia and the values we have collectively affirmed. https://t.co/z6ev1iLulX
— Senator Penny Wong (@SenatorWong) May 21, 2021
Peter Dutton has strongly urged defence members to not attend their own children’s birthday parties because of the imminent threat of fairy bread /j #auspol
— Alzbeta (@Alzbeta84506814) May 22, 2021
Just wait ’til he sees a rainbow in real life, Dutton will lose his shit.
