AUSTRALIA'S sex discrimination commissioner says commanding officers should be made more accountable for the sexist culture that exists within the military, while warning efforts at change had led to a backlash against female members.
Elizabeth Broderick on Wednesday said the Australian Defence Force (ADF) had made progress in terms of its treatment of women, including adopting new recruitment targets and establishing a sexual misconduct response office.
But the sex discrimination commissioner warned that the attempt at cultural change had also led to a backlash against female ADF members.
"We are out everyday talking to thousands of people across the military, both women and men," Ms Broderick said in Sydney on Wednesday, as she released the Australian Human Rights Commission's final audit report into the treatment of women in the ADF.
"In all our discussions, our focus group and the work we have been doing, we have heard of a backlash," she said.
Ms Broderick said the backlash included comments linking the promotion of women to their gender rather than ability, and that it had also been suggested that the ADF's standards had been lowered because too many women were being recruited.
"My message to defence is simple," Ms Broderick said.
"More needs to be done to better communicate the case for change and the rationale for many initiatives that are now in place.
"That case needs to be particularly communicated at the mid and junior levels."
But the commissioner also called for commanding officers to be made more accountable for the culture in their units.
"The research is clear," Ms Broderick said.
"Individual leaders create that environment that determines the nature of the culture of their organisation."
In responding to the report, ADF chief General David Hurley said tangible actions such as establishing the Sexual Misconduct Prevention and Response Office, demonstrated a commitment to change.
"However, the results from the audit report indicate that we still have some way to go to achieve the deep cultural reform we seek," he said.
The audit also recommends a sexual ethics program be put in place as soon as possible.
In a further step aimed at overturning the culture of sexism within its ranks, General Hurley on Wednesday also announced that women's advocate Julie McKay had been appointed to provide specialist advice on gender issues to help the ADF become more welcoming to women.
"Defence is committed to enhancing diversity in the workplace. We want to create an inclusive environment that respects, values and utilises everyone's contribution, regardless of their background, experiences or perspectives," he said in a statement.
Ms McKay, the executive director of the Australian National Committee for UN Women, and who has been a member of the Secretary and Chief of the Defence Force Gender Equality Advisory Board since 2012, will begin working in her new part-time role next week.
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