ADF sex measure Gender neutrals face ban

GENDER- NEUTRAL defence personnel could face tough new restrictions barring them from key Australian Defence Force roles under moves to obtain special exemptions from sex discrimination laws.

The Weekend Australian reports that the Turnbull Government has spent two months examining how it should respond to the operational challenges and extra costs of catering for genderneutral personnel.

Defence Personnel Minister Dan Tehan is considering an option to reinstate an exemption to the Sex Discrimination Act, which was removed more than four years ago when, in January 2013, all ADF employment categories were thrown open to women.

The decision resulted in several positions – including navy clearance divers, army infantry jobs and armoured corps roles – being opened to female participation as part of a push to improve diversity within the ADF.

The ADF has now suggested “unique operational requirements of military service” could make it difficult to meet the needs of personnel who identify as “gender X” and do not consider themselves male or female.

Government sources have confirmed that any attempt to seek a new exemption to sex discrimination laws for the ADF would be limited in application to capture only those personnel who identified as “gender X”.

Under any overhaul, women would not face new barriers preventing them from applying for positions in the ADF – a move previously championed by former prime minister Julia Gillard.

The ADF confirmed it was looking at new exemptions from sex discrimination laws after it was contacted by The Weekend Australian over revelations an ADFA cadet had claimed gender neutrality.