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Women fight for militaries around the world but rarely if ever are allowed to take the jobs most closely associated with soldiering - those focused on ground combat in close quarters and even hand to hand. That may be about to change in Australia.

A policy overhaul to be decided by Cabinet within weeks would remove all gender barriers from the military next year, arguably making the Australian Defense Force the world's leader on gender equality.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard, the first woman to lead Australia, and Defense Minister Stephen Smith are among those calling for the change. Smith has said that "what you do in the forces should be determined by your physical and intellectual capability or capacity, not simply on the basis of sex".

Questions remain, however, about whether troops and the public are ready for women to serve in combat roles. An influential security think tank warns that it could inflict heavy casualties on Australia's women warriors.

If Australia's Cabinet supports the policy change it would be in place by the end of 2012. That could give Australian women a chance to qualify for infantry roles in Afghanistan before 2014, when the country plans to withdraw its 1,550 troops. Gender boundaries have been steadily retreating in Australian defense services for years.

The government announced last month that women sailors will be allowed to bunk with men in submarines. Previously women had to sleep in female-only six-berth cabins. The shift will enable more women to fill a shortage of submariners by allowing more flexibility in assigning crews.

Australian women also can pilot attack helicopters and fighter jets. The positions closed off to them are mostly in the army, and include infantry, parachute, commando, special air services, artillery, tank and armored cavalry.

Australia's current policy on women in the military is similar to those of other countries in Afghanistan, including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and New Zealand. None allow women in roles where their primary function is to fight enemies at close range, though women are trained to be combat-ready.

The Australian government announced its commitment to removing gender barriers after a sex scandal broke at the officers' academy in April. A female cadet accused a male cadet of secretly filming the pair having sex and showing it to his friends via the Internet. Two male cadets were charged by police over the incident.

Questions:

1. When will the policy overhaul be decided by Cabinet?

2. What is the name of Australia’s prime minister?

3. How many troops will be withdrawn from Afghanistan by 2014?

Answers:

1. Within weeks

2. Julia Gillard

3. 1,550

（中國日報網英語點津 Julie 編輯）

About the broadcaster:

Lee Hannon is Chief Editor at China Daily with 15-years experience in print and broadcast journalism. Born in England, Lee has traveled extensively around the world as a journalist including four years as a senior editor in Los Angeles. He now lives in Beijing and is happy to move to China and join the China Daily team.