MIN 27/97 Tuesday, January 28, 1997

BURTON AND QUINN REPORTS RELEASED

Two reports released today by the Minister for Defence Industry, Science and Personnel, Bronwyn Bishop, indicate that women in the Australian Defence Force (ADF) are more readily accepted than previously and the many Equal Employment Opportunity and anti-harassment measures already in place are working.

The reports are titled Women in the Australian Defence Force by Dr Clare Burton and Sexual Harassment in the Australian Defence Force by Major Kathryn Quinn.

In her report, Dr Burton, a Canberra based employment equity research consultant reported that progress is being made, mainly through women gaining recognition for their skills and abilities throughout the ADF.

She also found that strategically focused policy initiatives from within the ADF are having a significant effect.

Dr Burton reported that although there are still some isolated elements of the ADF which view women as suitable for employment, only in support roles, attitudinal change is occurring as women alter their intentions and expectations and become committed to a long-term military career.

She found that mixed gender training and younger people working together are introducing cultural change.

Mrs Bishop said it is pleasing to note from the report that as new recruits train together and are assigned to integrated work units and as women show themselves to be competent and good team members, old attitudes are dissipating.

"Gender harassment, although not yet at an acceptable level is also improving."

In the second study, made up mainly of a survey, conducted in 1995 by Army psychologist, Major Kathryn Quinn, she reported that the incidence of all types of sexual harassment of service women has declined during the period 1987 to 1995.

While the report also found that the percentage of service women in 1995 who saw sexual harassment as a problem had increased, it concluded this could be a reflection of training and education processes within the Australian Defence Force following attention by the ADF in confronting these issues.
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Mrs Bishop said there is a special effort at the Royal Military College at Duntroon and the Australian Defence Force Academy to reinforce what is acceptable behaviour and to encourage young women to report any incidents of gender harassment.

Major Quinn reported that her findings were consistent with those of other major civilian studies in Australia and military studies in the United States and suggested that the Australian military is not substantially different from other organisations and institutions in relation to gender harassment.

Dr Burton commented that the ADF needed to take a more planned and systematic approach to the elimination of sex based discrimination.

As a direct result of the recommendations of the Burton Report, A Defence Force Equity Organisation was established last year to take responsibility for long-term planning and policy on gender issues within the Australian Defence Force. It will work closely with external consultants and the EEO areas of the Navy, Army and Air Force who will remain responsible for implementation of the policy.

Further information:

Minister's Office: Russ Street (0419) 696033

Dept. of Defence:

Beryl Janz (06) 265 3960 (b/h)

Dr Burton (06) 257 2967