Department of Justice and Community Safety
Evan MULHOLLAND (Northern Metropolitan) (12:04): (686) My question is to the Attorney-General. Thousands of Department of Justice and Community Safety staff have been told to undertake expanded cultural awareness training, including a module titled ‘White privilege training’. Will the Attorney personally intervene to ensure that this divisive training module, which discriminates on race, is withdrawn?
Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (12:04): Mr Mulholland, I reject the premise of your question and do not really appreciate the tone of your question either, but I will answer your question. I am advised that the module that you have referred to is optional for all staff. Aboriginal cultural awareness training is about making sure that the workplace is culturally safe and inclusive for Aboriginal Victorians, and it is something that I have actually encouraged members of this chamber to perhaps consider taking up given some of the commentary we get, particularly in committee stages of legislation. My department provides a range of training to support the staff to build their understanding of matters that impact Aboriginal people to create a justice system that helps improve outcomes for Aboriginal Victorians and community and provide, as I said, a culturally safe, inclusive workplace. DJCS is very proud to deliver Aboriginal cultural awareness training. They have recently expanded their offering to ensure a wide range of topics are available for justice staff. I am very proud of the employees within the department of justice because it is a very popular program to be engaged in.
Evan MULHOLLAND (Northern Metropolitan) (12:06): Attorney, the white privilege training module is part of the Department of Justice and Community Safety’s treaty education program. What is the total cost of the program to date? Does your department brief have the cost in there?
Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (12:06): Mr Mulholland, important investment in training across the public service is something that we should never shy away from. What I would point to is that in relation to training within the department of justice it is delivered within the operational base funding of the department. And it is something, as I have said, that I am particularly proud of. What I would like to point to is our commitment in the department of justice of achieving savings targets over four years. I have been in this place –
Members interjecting.
Jaclyn SYMES: You like to ignore me when I talk to you about policies and procedures. The target reducing –
Evan Mulholland: On a point of order, President, it was a clear question on the training module and the cost of that training module, and I would ask you to bring the Attorney back to the question.
The PRESIDENT: The issue I have with questions like this is that there are precedents from previous presidents that state the expectation of a minister to have a certain degree of detail and that it should not be expected. I think the minister is being relevant to the question.
Jaclyn SYMES: I answered the question in relation to the training requirements or the training expenditure being included in the operational budget of the department of justice. As I have outlined in my substantive answer, Mr Mulholland, the module that you have referred to is optional. I have not received advice in relation to the take-up, and I would actually encourage people to take up any training that involves the ability to deliver better outcomes for Aboriginal Victorians.