Australian Veterans’ Recognition (Putting Veterans and Their Families First) Act 2019

Australian Veterans’ Recognition (Putting Veterans and Their Families First) Act 2019

No. 96, 2019

Compilation No. 1

Compilation date: 1 July 2026

Includes amendments: Act No. 17, 2025

About this compilation

This compilation

This is a compilation of the Australian Veterans’ Recognition (Putting Veterans and Their Families First) Act 2019 that shows the text of the law as amended and in force on 1 July 2026 (the compilation date).

The notes at the end of this compilation (the endnotes) include information about amending laws and the amendment history of provisions of the compiled law.

Uncommenced amendments

The effect of uncommenced amendments is not shown in the text of the compiled law. The details of amendments made up to, but not commenced at, the compilation date are underlined in the endnotes. Any uncommenced amendments affecting the law are accessible on the Register (www.legislation.gov.au).

Application, saving and transitional provisions

If the operation of a provision or amendment of the compiled law is affected by an application, saving or transitional provision that is not included in this compilation, details are included in the endnotes.

Editorial changes

For more information about any editorial changes made in this compilation, see the endnotes.

Presentational changes

The Legislation Act 2003 provides for First Parliamentary Counsel to make presentational changes to a compilation. Presentational changes are applied to give a more consistent look and feel to legislation published on the Register, and enable the user to more easily navigate those documents.

Modifications

If the compiled law is modified by another law, the compiled law operates as modified but the modification does not amend the text of the law. Accordingly, this compilation does not show the text of the compiled law as modified. Any modifications affecting the law are accessible on the Register.

Self‑repealing provisions

If a provision of the compiled law has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law, details are included in the endnotes.

Contents

Part 1—Preliminary

1 Short title

2 Commencement

3 Object of this Act

4 Definitions

Part 2—Recognition of veterans and their families

5 General recognition

6 Australian Defence Veterans’ Covenant

7 Beneficial interpretation of legislation

8 Cooperation

Part 3—Issue of pins, cards or other artefacts

9 Issue of pins, cards or other artefacts

Part 4—Other matters

10 Part 2 does not create or give rise to rights or obligations

11 Act not intended to exclude similar State or Territory laws

Schedule 1—Australian Defence Veterans’ Covenant

Endnotes

Endnote 1—About the endnotes

Endnote 2—Abbreviation key

Endnote 3—Legislation history

Endnote 4—Amendment history

An Act to provide for the recognition of veterans, and for related purposes

Part 1—Preliminary

1  Short title

  This Act is the Australian Veterans’ Recognition (Putting Veterans and Their Families First) Act 2019.

2  Commencement

 (1) Each provision of this Act specified in column 1 of the table commences, or is taken to have commenced, in accordance with column 2 of the table. Any other statement in column 2 has effect according to its terms.

Note: This table relates only to the provisions of this Act as originally enacted. It will not be amended to deal with any later amendments of this Act.

 (2) Any information in column 3 of the table is not part of this Act. Information may be inserted in this column, or information in it may be edited, in any published version of this Act.

3  Object of this Act

  The object of this Act is to acknowledge the unique nature of military service and the sacrifice demanded of those who commit to defend our nation.

4  Definitions

  In this Act:

Permanent Forces has the same meaning as in the Defence Act 1903.

Reserves has the same meaning as in the Defence Act 1903.

veteran means a person who has served, or is serving, as a member of the Permanent Forces or as a member of the Reserves.

Part 2—Recognition of veterans and their families

5  General recognition

 (1) The Commonwealth acknowledges the unique nature of military service and the sacrifice demanded of those who commit to defend our nation.

 (2) The Commonwealth acknowledges the demands placed on, and the sacrifices made by, the families of veterans.

 (3) The Commonwealth acknowledges that veterans may require support mechanisms to enjoy good health, to access employment and training opportunities, to access appropriate housing, to have access to justice, to enjoy social wellbeing or to participate in community engagement after the end of their military service.

 (4) The Commonwealth is committed to supporting veterans and providing the care and support they require.

 (5) The Commonwealth acknowledges that support for veterans should be provided in a way that respects their dignity as individuals, enhances their self‑esteem, is sensitive to any physical or mental injury or disease they may have suffered and respects their military service.

 (6) The Commonwealth acknowledges that veterans should be supported to achieve greater economic wellbeing and sustainability and greater participation in civic affairs and should have opportunities to participate in employment and education.

6  Australian Defence Veterans’ Covenant

  The Parliament, on behalf of the people of Australia, endorses the Australian Defence Veterans’ Covenant set out in Schedule 1.

7  Beneficial interpretation of legislation

 (1) The Commonwealth is committed to decision‑makers interpreting a provision of the following legislation in a way that benefits veterans, or their families, where that interpretation is consistent with the purpose of that provision:

 (a) the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986;

 (b) the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (the MRC Act);

 (c) the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence‑related Claims) Act 1988;

 (d) instruments under those Acts.

 (2) The Commonwealth is committed to decision‑makers deciding claims under that legislation:

 (a) in a manner that is fair, just and consistent; and

 (b) except under the MRC Act—within a time that is proportionate to the complexity of the matter; and

 (c) in a manner that promotes public trust and confidence; and

 (d) on the basis of only requiring evidence sufficient to meet the relevant standard of proof for the claims.

 (3) The Commonwealth is committed to the Repatriation Commission deciding a claim under the MRC Act within 90 days beginning on:

 (a) the day the Commission receives the claim; or

 (b) the day the Commission receives information, or a document, that the Commission requested in relation to the claim under section 330 of that Act;

whichever occurs later.

8  Cooperation

  The Commonwealth is committed to working cooperatively with veterans, their families and ex‑service organisations to address issues facing veterans.

Part 3—Issue of pins, cards or other artefacts

9  Issue of pins, cards or other artefacts

 (1) The Commonwealth may issue pins, cards or other artefacts to veterans in recognition of the military service of veterans.

 (2) The Commonwealth may issue pins, cards or other artefacts to family members of veterans in recognition of:

 (a) the military service of veterans; or

 (b) the demands placed on, and the sacrifices made by, the families of veterans.

Part 4—Other matters

10  Part 2 does not create or give rise to rights or obligations

 (1) Part 2 does not, by its terms or operation, create or give rise to any rights (whether substantive or procedural), or obligations, that are legally enforceable in judicial or other proceedings.

 (2) A failure to comply with Part 2 does not affect the validity of any decision, and is not a ground for the review or challenge of any decision.

 (3) No action, suit or proceeding is to be instituted in reliance on the terms of Part 2 or the operation of that Part.

11  Act not intended to exclude similar State or Territory laws

  This Act is not intended to apply to the exclusion of any law of a State or Territory that provides for the recognition of veterans or their families.

Schedule 1—Australian Defence Veterans’ Covenant

Note: See section 6.

Endnotes

Endnote 1—About the endnotes

The endnotes provide information about this compilation and the compiled law.

The following endnotes are included in every compilation:

Endnote 1—About the endnotes

Endnote 2—Abbreviation key

Endnote 3—Legislation history

Endnote 4—Amendment history

Abbreviation key—Endnote 2

The abbreviation key sets out abbreviations that may be used in the endnotes.

Legislation history and amendment history—Endnotes 3 and 4

Amending laws are annotated in the legislation history and amendment history.

The legislation history in endnote 3 provides information about each law that has amended (or will amend) the compiled law. The information includes commencement details for amending laws and details of any application, saving or transitional provisions that are not included in this compilation.

The amendment history in endnote 4 provides information about amendments at the provision (generally section or equivalent) level. It also includes information about any provision of the compiled law that has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law.

Editorial changes

The Legislation Act 2003 authorises First Parliamentary Counsel to make editorial and presentational changes to a compiled law in preparing a compilation of the law for registration. The changes must not change the effect of the law. Editorial changes take effect from the compilation registration date.

If the compilation includes editorial changes, the endnotes include a brief outline of the changes in general terms. Full details of any changes can be obtained from the Office of Parliamentary Counsel.

Misdescribed amendments

A misdescribed amendment is an amendment that does not accurately describe how an amendment is to be made. If, despite the misdescription, the amendment can be given effect as intended, then the misdescribed amendment can be incorporated through an editorial change made under section 15V of the Legislation Act 2003.

If a misdescribed amendment cannot be given effect as intended, the amendment is not incorporated and “(md not incorp)” is added to the amendment history.

Endnote 2—Abbreviation key

Endnote 3—Legislation history

Endnote 4—Amendment history