Australian female soldiers fighting on the front line of a future conflict would be likely to suffer "disproportionate casualties" if they came up against enemy troops, the Australia Defence Association says.

Yesterday, Defence Minister Stephen Smith announced plans to fast track the introduction of women into frontline combat roles amid a series of inquiries into cultural problems within the Australian Defence Force.

Countries including New Zealand, Canada, and Israel already allow women in some frontline positions and Mr Smith says Australian women should get the same opportunity if they are up to the job.

But ADA spokesman Neil James says women do not have the same strength as men and would be at risk of dying to satisfy the "whims of feminists" if they faced the enemy.

"The nature of war doesn't change just because some feminists kick up a fuss," he said.

"Simple commonsense tells you that if you put women in some jobs where you directly fight men, enemy men, one-on-one in a physical confrontation for a continuous period, then we are likely to suffer more female casualties than male casualties.

"The other thing the feminists never justify in their arguments is would they be prepared to have women suffer disproportionate casualties compared to men just to satisfy their whims."

Prime Minister Julia Gillard says she has always believed women should be able to serve in all roles in the Defence Force.

"There are many Australian women who love their country. They want to be in the Defence Force," she said.

"A few years ago I heard [former Defence chief] Peter Cosgrove say that men and women should have an equal right to fight and die for their country.

"I think he's right about that and I think it's a good turn of phrase.

"Physical and intellectual capability has to be judged for every job, but if a woman has the physical capability and intellectual capability to do a particular job, then I do not believe it should be denied her on the basis of gender."

Sex Discrimination Commissioner Elizabeth Broderick, who will conduct a wide-ranging review into the way women are treated at ADFA, says the perception that women should not be in combat will change over time.

"We're talking about people who have the technical and physical capability to be in the frontline forces," she said.

"There's no doubt there's probably a significant number of people in the community who have that view, and it will take time to change that. But I think showing just how effective women can be on the front line will be part of showing people that gender should be irrelevant.

"It's strong signalling within the Defence Force and also to the community that we need men and women to be equal partners. The symbolism of it is quite significant."

Renewed attack

Mr James has also intensified his attacks on Mr Smith, accusing him of engineering the standing down of Australian Defence Force Academy chief Commodore Bruce Kafer.

Commodore Kafer has been ordered to take leave as a result of his handling of the college's internet sex scandal, in which a female cadet was allegedly filmed having sex without her knowledge.

Mr Smith had criticised Commodore Kafer for charging the female cadet with a disciplinary matter at the same time she was told of the invasion of privacy.

But Mr James says Mr Smith has bowed to public hysteria and is interfering in the disciplinary procedures of Defence.

"Due to public hysteria a minister has publicly humiliated and engineered the standing down of an officer who is innocent of the charges," he said.

"Any objective inquiry into this is likely to find Commodore Kafer and his staff acted properly. What will the minister then do? He'll have to apologise to Commodore Kafer."

Mr James said he consulted "five or six senior legal counsel in the ADO membership" who unanimously told him Mr Smith had acted unlawfully.

"His interference in an internal disciplinary proceeding contravenes the principle of the separation of powers," he said.

But Mr Smith has denied the allegations, saying it was the Vice Chief of Defence, Lieutenant General David Hurley, who made the decision to stand Commodore Kafer down.

But asked if he wanted Commander Kafer sacked, Mr Smith refused to be drawn.

"He is not responsible to me in a career sense. He is responsible to the Chief of the Defence Force and in a command line arrangement he is responsible directly to the Vice-Chief of the Defence Force," he said.