The 10 - 12 % thing comes from here:
Push for More Women | Women of the ADF - Defence Jobs Australia
As you say,
Happy to have a 50/50 split in any way shape form or any split for any job, but lets base it on merit.
I don't think anyone's proposing anything different. They want more women in jobs they're suitable for, so they're looking at ways they can make it happen.
Have a think, if only 5% of the female population are interested in the ADF increasing the extra 2% is a big challenge.
As you say, a bum pluck. Who really knows? I would be against any favouritism that puts people in jobs ahead of others wrongly, but from that article it seems they're just trying to make work arrangements more flexible where possible.
Before anyone starts jumping up and down, I bet there's still a clause when you sign up that says all bets are off if you're needed to deploy or whatever, and arrangements would need to be made accordingly.