Women will soon be allowed to serve in combat roles in the Defence Force after the government signalled a series of sweeping reviews of the Defence Force, in the wake of the 'Skype' sex scandal.
Defence Minister Stephen Smith yesterday announced six reviews to change the culture of defence in the wake of yet another sex scandal inside a department plagued by poor behaviour.
Mr Smith said the Defence Force will fast-track the removal of a ban on women serving in combat roles.
The reviews have all been called as a result of the secret broadcasting of a female cadet having sex with another student at the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) in Canberra.
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Reviews into everything from binge drinking to the paths open to women to rise through the ranks will begin soon.
Sex Discrimination Commissioner Elizabeth Broderick will lead one review into the treatment of women at the academy and will act on behalf of the human rights commission.
Women on the frontline
The defence minister said the government wants women to take up combat roles.
"It's implementing that that is the challenge - what is the science and the tests related to, for example, physical capacity."
Defence Personnel Minister Warren Snowdon is tasked with fast-tracking and implementing the entry of women into combat roles.
"Having said that I'm not putting a timetable on it," Mr Smith said.
Women would face very stringent physical tests before being cleared to take on combat roles, and women who meet those standards would be allowed to serve in infantry and armoured units and elite special units such as the SAS, the Australian reports.
Change is 'challenging'
Air Chief Marshal Houston said the ADF had worked very hard on increasing female participation in the armed services.
"Are we perfect? No we're not," he said.
"And I think the (HMAS) Success inquiry showed sometimes things don't go as they should."
But many Defence personnel behaved impeccably, he said.
"We have pockets in the organisation where there are problems in some of these areas, particularly the misuse of alcohol.
"And I think what we've got to do is have a look at all these areas. I welcome an audit, a stocktake of where we've got to."
The Defence chief stressed that with 50,000 staff members under the age of 25 it was inevitable there would be incidents from time to time.
"(But) I think they're the exception rather than the rule."
