Government inclusion training labelled ‘PC insanity’ by irate ministers

Dominic Perrottet government ministers have been told not to drink alcohol in the office, not to yell at staff and avoid using the word ‘mate’.

NSW government ministers are in revolt after being ­advised to avoid the word “mate” in conversation as part of ­Respect at Work training sessions that took place this week.

Perrottet government ministers have also been told not to drink alcohol in the office, not to yell at staff, and to invite everyone in the office if ­heading out for after-work drinks or lunch to ensure ­“inclusivity”.

Office “banter” or “gossip” is also a no-no, while ministers must also mindful of giving a “senior” person work more suitable for someone “junior” – a move that could be construed as “bullying”.

The advice was given during training sessions organised by the NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet as part of a review into bullying and ­harassment by former sex ­discrimination commissioner Pru Goward.

Dominic Perrottet government ministers have been told to avoid the word ‘mate’ and not to drink alcohol in the office. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Swift

An external ­“diversity and inclusion” consultant was hired to conduct the two-and-a-half-hour modules – three-and-a-half hours for staff – which have triggered a revolt among attendees who have ­described the course as “PC ­insanity”, “straight out of 1984” and “mumbo jumbo”.

Several participants took issue with the suggestion the word “mate” might be viewed as offensive.

One minister said: “I use ‘mate’ all the time – it’s as ­Australian as you can get. How can it be offensive?”

Another minister said: “We’re not allowed to have ­individual opinions. We have to engage in group thought … This is straight out of 1984.”

Veterans Minister David Elliott said he particularly ­objected to the suggestion of a booze ban, noting the bottle of whiskey in his office used to “placate my parliamentary ­colleagues”.

Ministers were also advised about ensuring any allegations about sexual assault were ­reported to the department, despite concerns a victim’s name could become “discoverable” via parliamentary processes such as a call for papers.

The consultant could not be reached, but a website for the business highlighted “inclusive leadership”, “unconscious bias and mindful inclusion”, “gender equity”, “cultural inclusion” and “women in leadership” as among its areas of expertise.

A Department of Premier and Cabinet spokesman said the “Respect at Work” training sessions were held to raise awareness of the legal obligations of ministers and chiefs-of-staff regarding workplace misconduct. The total cost of the program, undertaken in response to the Goward report, was estimated to be $202,000 with program expected to be run regularly. “The NSW
government takes its work, health and safety obligations very seriously,” the spokesman said.