The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has been slammed for promoting “fashion diplomacy” after it sponsored an Australian-made Islamic clothing exhibition targeting Southeast Asia’s booming “modest fashion” market.
The Australian newspaper reports today that the exhibition, which features burkini swimsuits, was taken to Malaysia by DFAT to capture the “burgeoning” fashion market while promoting Australian diversity.
Australian Conservatives Leader Senator Cory Bernardi said, “This is Cultural Modelling at its worst. How a Federal Government department assumes to determine what is and what is not appropriately ‘modest’ attire is beyond me. They’ll be telling us next what to have for breakfast.”
Senator Bernardi says the DFAT claim that “The emerging modest fashion market can help advance Australia’s public diplomacy objectives” assumes we are all one people and all of one view.
“How much more totalitarian do you want to get? This is a frighteningly backward move and further proof that our government institutions are riddled with politically correct apparatchiks.”