- New rules may put women on front line
- The Age
- 27/09/2008 Make a Comment
- Contributed by: The Rooster ( 264 articles in 2008 )
The lifting of gender-based restrictions on defence personnel could see Australian women fighting in front-line combat.
The federal government is reviewing the restrictions that prevent women from occupying dangerous combat roles, and is considering replacing them with ones based on physical attributes, Fairfax newspapers report.
The work is being done by the Defence Department's scientific arm, the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO).
Women now make up more than 13 per cent of Australia's Defence Force and can serve in 90 per cent of its roles. However direct combat roles, such as infantry, artillery gunners, armoured corps or combat engineers, remain out of bounds.
While some women may not possess the physical attributes required for the most demanding combat roles, the changed restrictions would see them excluded on merit, not gender.
"It is important that we keep working towards removing the barriers to women being eligible to serve in all employment categories," Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon told Fairfax.
"Studies such as the DSTO physical standards project ... will assist in identifying practical measures to removing such barriers."
The federal government is reviewing the restrictions that prevent women from occupying dangerous combat roles, and is considering replacing them with ones based on physical attributes, Fairfax newspapers report.
The work is being done by the Defence Department's scientific arm, the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO).
Women now make up more than 13 per cent of Australia's Defence Force and can serve in 90 per cent of its roles. However direct combat roles, such as infantry, artillery gunners, armoured corps or combat engineers, remain out of bounds.
While some women may not possess the physical attributes required for the most demanding combat roles, the changed restrictions would see them excluded on merit, not gender.
"It is important that we keep working towards removing the barriers to women being eligible to serve in all employment categories," Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon told Fairfax.
"Studies such as the DSTO physical standards project ... will assist in identifying practical measures to removing such barriers."
Source: https://news.theage.com.au/national/new-rules-may-put-women-on-front-line-20080927-4p18.html
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