The Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU), which represents members in the Australian Public Service (APS), says Peter Dutton's comments show he is intent on mimicking the US President and fundamentally misunderstands the role of the public service.
Today, Peter Dutton took aim at cultural diversity and inclusion in the APS, promising to axe roles with responsibility for ensuring the public sector workforce reflects the communities they serve.
The move is the latest in a series of announcements Mr Dutton has made on the public sector that echo the US President, including appointing a new shadow minister for government efficiency mimicking Trump's appointment of Elon Musk to a new US Department of Government Efficiency, and promising to cut 36,000 public sector jobs.
Quotes attributable to CPSU National Secretary, Melissa Donnelly:
"Today's comments from Peter Dutton are straight from the Trump playbook, demonstrating his lack of ideas, and his lack of understanding of modern workplaces.
"What Mr Dutton fails to comprehend is that a workforce that reflects the public they serve is better able to deliver essential services effectively.
"Having staff with lived experience of disability, for example, means the NDIA has a deeper understanding of how to improve and more effectively target disability services to Australians.
"Likewise, the National Indigenous Australians Agency workforce needs to include Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander workers whose first-hand experiences are critical to the agency's work.
"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."
