Dutton aims at diversity
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Peter Dutton wants fewer public servants - and even fewer focused on diversity and inclusion.
The Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) has condemned opposition leader Peter Dutton’s recent comments targeting diversity and inclusion roles within the Australian Public Service (APS).
Dutton’s remarks, which included a pledge to eliminate roles focused on ensuring the public sector reflects the communities it serves, were met with strong rebuke from the CPSU.
CPSU National Secretary Melissa Donnelly has described Dutton’s approach as an imitation of strategies seen in the United States
“[The] comments from Peter Dutton are straight from the Trump playbook, demonstrating his lack of ideas, and his lack of understanding of modern workplaces,” she said.
Dutton’s announcement follows his earlier promises to cut 36,000 public sector jobs and the appointment of a new shadow minister for government efficiency, mirroring the US administration’s appointment of Elon Musk to a similar role.
Donnelly stressed the importance of diversity within the APS, arguing that it enhances service delivery.
“What Mr Dutton fails to comprehend is that a workforce that reflects the public they serve is better able to deliver essential services effectively,” she said.
She cited examples such as the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA), where staff with lived experiences of disability contribute to more effective service provision, and the National Indigenous Australians Agency, which relies on the insights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees.
“Inclusion and diversity may sound like an easy target to Mr Dutton and Mr Trump, but for people who access public services, the value of having someone who speaks their language and understands their experience is immeasurable,” Donnelly said.
