Australia's Defence Minister has rallied against a morning tea function last week that saw staff wear rainbow coloured clothes and pins.
The event was to mark International Day Against Homophobia Biphobia, Interphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT), a day that recognises issues still plaguing the LGBTQIA+ community.
The event had been months in the planning, with a note sent out earlier this year encouraging workers to bring something colourful to show support for the global day.
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The note reportedly said: "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 Defence-organised event was held without issue, however when Peter Dutton found out that time and effort was spent on wearing colourful clothing, he fumed.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, he even made Defence Force Chief Angus Campbell and Secretary Greg Moriarty issue statements to remind staff that events that have 'particular clothes in celebration' will not be permitted in the future.
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The Defence Minister told the newspaper: "I've 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't help."
But this agenda isn't just confined to the way people dress, but also how they communicate with each other.
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Defence personnel were urged to not assume everyone in the serving military or public sector was heterosexual. As a result, they shouldn't use the word boyfriend or girlfriend and instead use the gender-neutral term partner.
That's also now in the bin as the Defence Minister tries to keep his department free of inclusivity measures.
"Defence represents the people of Australia and must at all times be focused on our primary mission to protect Australia's national security interests. We must not be putting effort into matters that distract from this," the message to Defence workers said.
"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.
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"We have made it clear to all Service Chiefs and Group Heads that combat and organisational capability is to be delivered through our well-developed training and education programs, exercises and operational experience, with respectful behaviours, underpinned by Defence values."
Featured Image Credit: PATopics: Australia