Mentions of ‘gender’ scrubbed from Queensland Office for Women website amid alleged effort to ‘dewokify’

The Queensland Office for Women has removed multiple references to the word “gender” from its official website following internal directives, according to emails and web archive records obtained by The Guardian. The changes, which include eliminating the phrase “gender equality” from key sections of the site, have sparked controversy among former employees, who claim the move reflects an attempt to “dewokify” the public service under the current Liberal National Party (LNP) government. The alterations were identified through comparisons of archived versions of the website with its current state. As of early February, the “About” page, once a central hub for information about the office’s mission, no longer includes the phrase “gender equal Queensland.” Previously, this phrase was featured prominently, appearing as the first tab on the page’s toolbar, in the opening sentence of the text, and in the first bullet point outlining the office’s role. Web archives reveal that six explicit mentions of “gender equality” or “gender equal” were deleted during the revisions. Across the entire site, over 20 instances of the word “gender” were removed, though some references to “gender equality” still appear on the homepage. Former departmental staff, speaking anonymously, allege that internal instructions tasked them with scrubbing the term “gender” from the online platform. They say they were informed that the minister for women, Fiona Simpson, found the word “too direct” and “loaded,” suggesting it carried political connotations. One employee recounted pushing back against the directive, arguing that the term was essential for accurately representing issues like the gender pay gap. “Why are we making this a queer issue?” they stated, emphasizing that the focus should remain on the disparity faced by women. In response to inquiries raised during parliamentary estimates, the department’s director general, Natalie Wilde, explained that updates to the website are part of routine efforts to enhance user experience. She noted that editorial changes to web content are handled operationally and approved through the strategic communications unit. However, critics argue these changes reflect broader ideological shifts within the government. The redesign also included altering the website’s visual branding, shifting the banner color from purple to blue, a hue associated with the LNP, and adding the slogan “delivering for Queensland.” These modifications align with the party’s branding strategy and have drawn criticism from watchdogs like the Centre for Public Integrity, whose director, Geoffrey Watson SC, has previously condemned the use of such imagery across government entities as a form of politicization. The removal of terms related to gender has reignited debates about the role of language in policy and public administration. While the government maintains that the changes are purely cosmetic and aimed at improving accessibility, former employees and opposition figures suggest otherwise. During parliamentary estimates, the shadow minister for women, Shannon Fentiman, questioned the rationale behind the edits, highlighting concerns about the implications for inclusivity and transparency. As the situation unfolds, scrutiny will likely intensify, particularly regarding how language choices influence public perception and policy outcomes. Whether these changes represent a broader trend or an isolated incident remains to be seen. For now, the Office for Women continues to operate under the new branding, with the minister reaffirming her commitment to supporting Queensland women.