Could the trend continue in Australia?

The Donald Trump effect

The rise of DEI in Australia

Criticisms of DEI measures have stemmed from a sentiment that people employed through such programs may not merit their success, and therefore deprived more deserving candidates who are not part of a minority group.

Legislative clout

While Jogulu said there is much work going into DEI initiatives around Australia, beyond this reporting specific to women in the workplace, the area lacked “legislative clout”.

Uma Jogulu, a senior lecturer in management with Edith Cowan University’s School of Business and Law, said there had been much progress in creating workplaces that better reflect Australia’s population in recent years. Source: Supplied / Stephen Heath

“We only have that one reporting that we collect, which is the WGEA reporting, other reporting is not annually submitted, collected or even done.”

Lundy said while there is anti-discrimination legislation in Australia that covers many different identity groups, simply not breaching that legislation was “a pretty low bar” to meet.

Opposition plan for public service

Opposition leader Peter Dutton has spoken about making the public service more “efficient.” Source: AAP / Steven Markham

Australia’s race discrimination commissioner Giridharan Sivaraman is said he was “concerned” by these comments.

“Having DEI positions at least recognises this and makes it an issue that can be progressed.”

Agenda of the government of the day

With a federal election to be held on or before 17 May, Lundy and Jogulu said they would both have concerns over the future of DEI under a government led by Dutton, given his recent comments about such initiatives in the public sector.

Judy Lundy is a lecturer management discipline at Edith Cowan University’s School of Business and Law. Source: Supplied / Stephen Heath

“It is very apparent that Dutton is talking about having ,” Lundy said.

Given his comments around “bureaucratic red tape” she said she “could imagine that that could be something that Dutton could change significantly and yet social procurement has been seen to have incredibly positive outcomes for a lot of marginalised cohorts”.

Optimism about increasing diversity

Lundy said businesses face a “very real risk” of “expensive compensation claims” involving matters that may involve staff and centre around diversity, equality and inclusion.

“Costco are talking a very strong stance that they are not going to back down on their DEI and they have never been busier, the public are supporting them by flocking into the CostCo stores and Ben and Jerry’s is another, I’ve heard.”