17c起草社区

Newly released emails have highlighted the distress caused to 17c起草社区I Australian Defence Force employees following Defence Minister Peter Dutton鈥檚 ban on events with 鈥減articular clothes in celebration鈥� earlier this year. The ban came just days after an Australian Defence Force morning tea was held to commemorate the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT).聽

The Age聽revealed newly surfaced emails in which ADF employees called out Dutton鈥檚 鈥渢one deaf鈥� actions and wrote openly about feeling 鈥渋mmediate disappointment and shame鈥� and 鈥渟lightly disturbed鈥�.

In issuing his orders, Dutton told Defence Force Chief Angus Campbell and Secretary Greg Moriarty to issue a note ending such events, adding that while he would never tolerate discrimination, he also had no interest in pursuing a 鈥渨oke agenda鈥�.

鈥淚鈥檝e been very clear to the chiefs that I will not tolerate discrimination. But we are not pursuing a woke agenda. Our task is to build up the morale in the Australian Defence Force and these woke agendas don鈥檛 help,鈥� Dutton told The Age in May.聽

‘A Homophobic Argument’

Obtained under Freedom of Information, one email written by People Services to Associate Secretary for Defence People Group Lisa Phelps said: 鈥渢o the LGBTIQ community and to particular members of Defence it must have been horrible to have a day that is meant to promote inclusivity and compassion singled out and deemed unnecessary.鈥�

The email went on to say that Defence could have the 鈥渙dd morning tea or gathering to celebrate or bring light鈥� to a number of causes without jeopardising the 鈥渕ission to protect Australia鈥檚 national security interests鈥�.

鈥淚 would ask for some clarification that if we are to cease these events, will the same occur for International Women鈥檚 Day, ANZAC Day or Remembrance Day and Harmony Day,鈥� the email asked of Phelps.

Another Defence official requested to speak with someone to 鈥渦nderstand what is the motivation and message that is being conveyed.鈥�

Of course, many were quick to condemn the order handed down by Dutton. The Community and Public Sector Union wrote a letter addressed to General Campbell and Moriarty in June.

鈥淟GBTI+ employees have been told before that their existence will undermine military 鈥榤orale鈥� and distract or even threaten national security. It was then and is today a homophobic argument that has no basis in fact. Yet this view appears to be reappearing at the highest levels in Defence,鈥� the Community and Public Sector Union鈥檚 letter read.聽

Previous to his time as Minister of Defence, the former Minister for Health had played a .

For 24 hour crisis support and suicide prevention call Lifeline on 13 11 14

For Australia-wide 17c起草社区I peer support call QLife on 1800 184 527 or .