Critics aghast at ‘ bonkers’ ban on Defence recruiting males

THE Australian Army has put a ban on male recruits in its politically correct push to increase female ranks including those on the frontline in combat roles.

News Corp can reveal that Australian Defence Force recruiters have been told they will be re- posted if they ignore directives to exclusively target women for most new jobs.

This week’s target list of army jobs is looking for recruits in 50 roles — but 35 of those are only available to women, including on the front line in the Armoured Cavalry and as a combat engineer.

There are currently no jobs available for men in the infantry as a rifleman or as an artilleryman — but both jobs are highlighted as “recruit immediately” if a female candidate comes forward. A distressed army recruitment officer said: “This is political correctness gone mad. I don’t care if it is a man or a woman, I just want to get the best person for the job.”

The navy and air force have similar recruitment quotas. Of 18 jobs listed for the navy in the next six months just one is open to male recruits. None of the seven targeted air force roles is open to men.

The only males who will be considered for those roles are indigenous Australians.

Former army officer and Australian Conservatives party member Bernie Gaynor, who was sacked for his outspoken comments, said his former colleagues had turned to him to speak on their behalf about the “bonkers” politically correct policies.

“The recruitment priority plan shows that Defence’s politically correct policies have gone beyond bonkers. It is now openly discriminating against males for its combat roles in the army,” he said.

“Defence members feel concerned that these policies will result in combat casualties. But they cannot speak up or they will lose their jobs.”

Senator Cory Bernardi warned “politically correct and gender ideol- ogy” was likely to “compromise the effectiveness of our front line combat capability”. “We have got to inject a serious dose of common sense into the ADF,” he said.

The recruitment policy comes from the top. At an International Women’s Day speech in Canberra this year Chief of Army Lieutenant General Angus Campbell said: “We aspire to have 25 per cent representation of women in army by 2025.”

That is double the current number of women who make up 12.7 per cent.