Australia wants more women in military

CANBERRA, Australia, Sept. 9 (UPI) -- The Australian government wants to increase the percentage of women in the armed forces by removing restrictions on combat service, officials said.

Defense Personnel and Science Minister Greg Combet introduced a plan Tuesday that would change physical requirements for most jobs in the Australian Defense Force, The Australian reported.

"A priority of the government is to improve the recruitment and retention of women in the ADF," Combet told Parliament. "My own view is that all categories should be open to women. The only exceptions should be where the physical demands cannot be met according to criteria that are determined on the basis of scientific analysis, rather than assumptions about gender."

Women make up about 13 percent of the Australian military and are allowed to serve in about 81 percent of jobs. In the Navy, the only categories closed to women are clearance diver and mine clearance dive officer.