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Below: A September, 2011, CNN news report on Australia's decision to open all ADF positions up to merit-based selection irrespective of gender. It includes comments from the Defence Minister, Stephen Smith, and serving women soldiers. Below: A January, 2011 United States news report on a recent Pentagon commission recommendation that women be able to take up direct combat roles in the armed forces. . Below: A February, 2011 CNN report on IAVA Project Coordinator Jennifer Hunt, a veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan, who explains how while in Iraq she was wounded in direct combat. Below: An April, 2010 report on an Israeli unit deployed along the Egyptian border which claims to be the only combat unit in the world where men and women fight together. Below: An April, 2009 report on the second female Canadian soldier to be killed during fighting in Afghanistan, Trooper Karine Blais, of Les Méchins, Quebec. The report also includes references to the first Canadian woman soldier killed in combat, Captain Nichola Goddard. |
 Web links, documents |
On June 29, 2011, the ABC opinion forum, The Drum, published a comment by Ted Lapin, a ministerial advisor to the federal Coalition and communications director to a senior member the Republican Congressional leadership in Washington, titled, 'Weakening the ADF in the name of equality'. The comment gives Lapin's reasons for opposing women in frontline combat roles. The full text of this comment can be found at http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/2776294.html
On September 27, 2011, the Defence Minister, Stephen Smith, issued a media release announcing that all positions in the Australian Defence Force (ADF) would be made available to suitable candidates irrespective of gender. The change will be put in place over the next five years.
The full text of the media release can be found at http://www.minister.defence.gov.au/2011/09/27/minister-for-defence-removal-of-restrictions-on-combat-roles-for-women/
On September 27, 2011, the Defence Minister, Stephen Smith, and the Minister for Defence Science and Personnel, Warren Snowdon, gave a joint press conference after announcing there would be an opening up of all defence force positions on the basis of ability rather than gender.
A full transcript of this press conference can be found at http://www.minister.defence.gov.au/2011/09/27/minister-for-defence-science-and-personnel-removal-of-combat-restrictions-projects-of-concern-maritime-arrivals
On September 28, 2011, Crikey published an analysis by Amber Jamieson titled, 'Women on the front line'. The analysis gives a brief account of the recent changes in defence force personnel policy and reactions for and against the changes.
The full text of the analysis can be found at http://www.crikey.com.au/2011/09/28/women-on-the-front-line-3/
On September 28, 2011, The Punch published an opinion piece by Tory Shepherd titled, 'A woman's right to choose war is her own battle'. The piece gives Tory's reasons for supporting the inclusion of women in direct combat roles within the ADF. The full text of this opinion piece can be found at http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/who-will-regret-sending-women-to-the-frontline/
On September 29, 2011, The Conversation published an analysis by Ben Wadham,
A senior lecturer at Flinders University, titled, 'Women in combat: the battle is over but the war against prejudice grinds on'. Though an analysis, the piece essentially supports the changes that have been made.
The full text can be found at http://theconversation.edu.au/women-in-combat-the-battle-is-over-but-the-war-against-prejudice-grinds-on-3593
On September 30, 2011, The Interpreter, the journal of the Lowy Institute for International Policy, published an opinion piece by retired Major General Jim Molan in which he outlined some of his objections to women being eligible for frontline combat. The full text of this comment can be found at http://www.lowyinterpreter.org
(Please note this is the current edition of The Interpreter and this comment will be replaced when a later edition is put online.)
On September 30, 2011, The Sydney Morning Herald published an opinion piece by Clive Hamilton titled, 'Women at war is the final surrender'. Hamilton argues that women in the frontline represent a failure or feminism and a loss of the best of women's values. The full text of this opinion piece can be found at http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/women-at-war-is-the-final-surrender-20110929-1kz77.html
