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Australia's 90,000 troops will for the first time be asked to provide DNA blood samples as authorities reportedly prepare for a rising rate of deaths on overseas deployments.
The nation's regular and reserve troops will be asked to provide the samples, according to a report in The Australian, to hasten the identification of soldiers killed when posted in Iraq, Afghanistan and other countries.
The collection plan will be voluntary in its initial phase because laws prevent soldiers from being forced to give DNA samples against their will.
The newspaper says Australian Defence Force tender documents make it clear that military chiefs want the DNA scheme to be rolled out, and for it to eventually be mandatory.
"In its mature form, it is envisaged that the DNA repository will hold samples from all ADF personnel, with the provision of a blood sample being obligatory," the tender document reads.
"However, mandatory sampling of Defence personnel cannot be implemented without some changes to legislation.
"Until those changes are approved, contribution to the ADF DNA Repository will be on a voluntary basis."
News of the move comes as the body of SAS soldier Matthew Locke, who was killed in Afghanistan last week, is expected to arrive in Perth today.
- AAP
