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Public servants in the Defence Department have been banned from associating with extremist political groups, at work and in their spare time. The department's employees will also be expected to dob-in colleagues they suspect of dabbling in extreme ideology. Defence boss Dennis Richardson told his 21,000 civilian bureaucrats last year that their private political activities could now result in them being punished under the Australian Public Service Code of Conduct. The move extends bans already in place on Australian Defence Force members belonging to groups that hold views that are extremist, violent, bigoted or discriminatory. Anybody caught in defence workplaces advocating supremacist views or with material that is offensive or belittling to minority groups will be in trouble, staff have been warned. An extremism checklist has been distributed to line managers in the department, with tips for spotting warning signs that their public servants might be flirting with the hard right. Displays of racism, bigotry, homophobia or sexism by Australian sailors, soldiers and air force personnel can be punished under the Defence Force Discipline Act and there has been a steady stream of disciplinary actions in recent years for breaches, many of them linked to online networks of ADF members. Do you know more? Send your confidential tips to ps@canberratimes.com.au The new rules for civilian defence employees are contained in a joint directive signed in September by Mr Richardson and the chief of the Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin. The directive bans civilian employees from associating privately with political groups that promote extremism, violence or discrimination. The document warns defence public servants not to "associate with, join or remain a member of groups or associations who engage in unlawful activities or engage, promote or espouse behaviours that are inconsistent with defence values". The department believes membership or association of such groups poses a security and reputational risk to the defence establishment. Failure to report known associations of colleagues is also a breach of the new rules and is punishable under the Code of Conduct. The extremism checklist distributed to managers warns them to be on the lookout for tell-tale signs their staff might have drifted beyond the political fringe. "Early detection and intervention can reduce the risk to defence and can protect defence personnel," managers were advised. "Indicators that a defence member is associating with a group of concern could include possession or display of literature associated with such groups, related ideology, doctrine, emblems, or changes in behaviour." Other federal public servants are facing greater scrutiny of their activities and associations, with 8500 immigration officials facing tough Organisational Suitability Assessment probes as their department merges with Customs.