STATEMENT
Capability – not Cupcakes – for #yourADF
Defence Minister Richard Marles’ move to reinstate “rainbow morning teas” in the Australian Defence Force is a complete subversion of priorities.
Labor is clearly perplexed about the primary role of the ADF, which it obviously thinks is about pursuing a woke agenda that cares more about your sexual orientation than ADF capability.
People I know in the ADF who are gay tell me the best way to achieve inclusion in the Defence Force is to be treated the same as everyone else.
Just weeks ago, the Albanese Government announced details of the Defence Strategic Review, appointing former CDF Angus Houston and former Defence Minister Stephen Smith to run it.
They said our national security landscape is changing, and a force posture review was necessary for adapting to the evolving security and strategic environment.
Yet just twenty days on from that announcement, the Government is fixated on Defence being a petri dish for social engineering and “inclusive events”.
This isn’t a question about discrimination – which of course should never be tolerated. It’s a question of priority when it comes to our national security. As former Defence Minister Dutton stated, “Our task is to build up the morale of the ADF and these woke agendas don’t help.”
The ADF’s primary role should be defending and protecting Australia’s national interests. It’s not designed – and should never be used – as a vehicle for social change.
Defence’s primary business must remain just that – the defence and protection of Australia’s interests. That’s why the Coalition government returned Defence spending to more than 2% of GDP, including investing more than $270 billion in defence capability.
Yet capability and defending Australia’s national interests are clearly not the priority of this Labor government.
The recently re-appointed Chief of Defence Force Angus Campbell and Defence Department secretary Greg Moriarty have collectively declared diversity and inclusion as the key to the organisation’s success.
“We recognise a diverse workforce supported by an inclusive culture is essential to Defence’s capability and effectiveness,” they said.
This is not the view of our ADF’s men and women. Senior army officers and soldiers of all ranks are already telling me – it’s symbolism over substance.
Anything that diverts the ADF’s focus away from warfighting undermines its preparedness in responding to rapidly changing strategic circumstances in our region.
Prescribing special recognition of certain groups in the name of inclusivity results in exactly the opposite. It separates and divides the ADF across gender, sexuality and orientation.
It’s something Australians of all origins have fought long and hard to eliminate in our egalitarian, tolerant, multicultural society; one where every citizen is equal.
ENDS