Native Members of the Forces (Papua and New Guinea) Benefits Regulations (Amendment)

Administered by Department of Veterans' Affairs

Legislation au F1997B02166 Regulations Not in force Legislative Instrument

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1975 No. 98

REGULATIONS UNDER THE PAPUA NEW GUINEA (MEMBERS OF THE FORCES BENEFITS) ACT 1957-1974.*

I, THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL of Australia, acting with the advice of the Executive Council, hereby make the following Regulations under the Papua New Guinea (Members of the Forces Benefits) Act 1957-1974.

Dated this twenty-ninth day of May, 1975.

JOHN R. KERR

Governor-General.

By His Excellency’s Command,

JOHN M. WHEELDON

Minister of State for Repatriation and Compensation.

__________

Amendments of the Native Members of the Forces (Papua and New Guinea) Benefits Regulations†

1. Regulation 1 of the Native Members of the Forces (Papua and New Guinea) Benefits Regulations is repealed and the following regulation substituted: —

Citation.

“ 1. These Regulations may be cited as the Papua New Guinea (Members of the Forces Benefits) Regulations.”.

Definitions.

2. Regulation 3 of the Native Members of the Forces (Papua and New Guinea) Benefits Regulations is amended—

(a) by omitting the definition of “member” and substituting the follow­ing definition:—

“ ‘ member ’ means a member of the Forces;”;

(b) by omitting the definition of “ the Act ” and substituting the follow­ing definition:—

“ ‘ the Act ’ means the Papua New Guinea (Members of the Forces Benefits) Act 1957-1974;”; and

(c) by omitting from the definition of “ wife ” the word “ native ” (wherever occurring).

 

* Notified in the Australian Government Gazette on 30 May 1975.

† Statutory Rules 1961, No. 73, as amended by Statutory Rules 1964, No. 112; and 1970, No. 62.


3. (1) Regulation 4 of the Native Members of the Forces (Papua and New Guinea) Benefits Regulations is repealed and the following regulation substituted:—

Prescribed Authority.

“ 4. For the purposes of paragraph 9 (4) (a) of the Act and for the purposes of these Regulations, the Repatriation Commission established by section 7 of the Repatriation Act 1920-1975 is the prescribed authority.”.

(2) An approval, determination, direction, authorization or appointment given or made under the Native Members of the Forces (Papua and New Guinea) Benefits Regulations by the former prescribed authority and in force immediately before the commencement of this sub-regulation has force and effect after the commencement of this sub-regulation as if it were given or made by the prescribed authority immediately after the commencement of this sub-regulation.

(3) Where a pension or allowance was payable to, or medical treatment was provided for, a person under the Native Members of the Forces (Papua and New Guinea) Benefits Regulations as in force from time to time before the commencement of this sub-regulation and payment of that pension or allowance, or the provision of that medical treatment, depended on—

(i) an opinion that was the opinion of the former prescribed authority before the commencement of this sub-regulation; or

(ii) an act that was done by the former prescribed authority before the commencement of this sub-regulation,

the amendment effected by sub-regulation (1) does not affect the payment of the pension or allowance to, or the provision of the medical treatment for, that person after the commencement of this sub-regulation and, for the purpose of enabling the pension or allowance to be so paid or medical treatment to be so provided—

(iii) that opinion shall be deemed to be and to continue to be the opinion of the prescribed authority until the prescribed authority forms a different opinion in relation to that pension or allowance; or

(iv) that act shall be deemed to be an act done by the prescribed authority,

as the case may be.

(4) A claim lodged with the former prescribed authority before the com­mencement of this sub-regulation, not being a claim in respect of which the former prescribed authority made a determination under regulation 7 of the Native Members of the Forces (Papua and New Guinea) Benefits Regulations as in force from time to time before the commencement of this sub-regulation, has effect for the purposes of the Native Members of the Forces (Papua and New Guinea) Benefits Regulations as amended by these Regulations as if it had been lodged with the prescribed authority on or after the commencement of this sub-regulation.

(5) Where the former prescribed authority had assumed the office of trustee of a pensioner under regulation 20 of the Native Members of the Forces (Papua and New Guinea) Benefits Regulations as in force from time to time before the commencement of this sub-regulation and that assumption of office had not been revoked before the commencement of this sub-regulation, the prescribed authority becomes, upon the commencement of this sub-regulation, by virtue of this sub-regulation, the trustee of that pensioner for the purposes of the Native Members of the Forces (Papua and New Guinea) Benefits Regulations as amended by these Regulations and may revoke the assumption of office by the former prescribed authority as if it had been an assumption of office by the prescribed authority on or after the commencement of this sub-regulation.


(6) In sub-regulations (2), (3), (4) and (5), the former prescribed authority means the prescribed authority for the purposes of the Native Members of the Forces (Papua and New Guinea) Benefits Regulations as in force from time to time before the commencement of this sub-regulation.

Rates of pension.

4. Regulation 9 of the Native Members of the Forces (Papua and New Guinea) Benefits Regulations is amended by omitting from sub-regulations (2) and (3) the word “ native ” (wherever occurring).

Cessation of pension payable to widow.

5. Regulation 13 of the Native Members of the Forces (Papua and New Guinea) Benefits Regulations is amended by omitting from sub-regulation (2) the word “ native ”.

Prohibitions.

6. Regulation 21 of the Native Members of the Forces (Papua and New Guinea) Benefits Regulations is repealed.

Overview

The Papua New Guinea (Members of the Forces Benefits) Regulations 1975 were enacted by the Governor-General of Australia, acting on the advice of the Executive Council, under the Papua New Guinea (Members of the Forces Benefits) Act 1957-1974. These regulations aimed to address the need for updated and streamlined administrative procedures in providing benefits to members of the forces from Papua New Guinea. The policy objective behind these regulations was to ensure that the benefits provided under the Act were efficiently managed and delivered to the entitled beneficiaries, particularly in light of the changes in the administrative structure from the former prescribed authority to the Repatriation Commission. The Regulations replaced and amended previous regulations to reflect changes in terminology and administrative practices, ensuring that the definition of terms such as "member" and "wife" were clarified and that the Repatriation Commission was recognised as the prescribed authority for certain functions. The regulations also aimed to maintain the continuity of benefits and administrative actions taken prior to their commencement, ensuring that no beneficiary was adversely affected by the transition.

Scope and Application

The Papua New Guinea (Members of the Forces Benefits) Regulations, made under the Papua New Guinea (Members of the Forces Benefits) Act 1957-1974, apply to members of the forces from Papua New Guinea who served in the Australian Defence Force and their dependents. These regulations determine the benefits, entitlements, and allowances that are available to these members and their families. They cover aspects such as pensions, medical treatment, and other support services. The regulations apply nationally within Australia, ensuring that eligible individuals receive the benefits they are entitled to under the Act, irrespective of their location within the country. While the regulations broadly apply to all eligible members and their dependents, certain provisions may be subject to exclusions or conditions specified in the Act or in the regulations themselves. The Repatriation Commission, established under the Repatriation Act 1920-1975, is designated as the prescribed authority for the purposes of these regulations, with certain provisions ensuring continuity of benefits and claims from the previous authority.

Key Provisions

The Papua New Guinea (Members of the Forces Benefits) Regulations establish the framework for benefits applicable to members of the Forces who served in Papua New Guinea, as defined in Regulation 1. The Regulations replace previous definitions and terminology to ensure clarity and consistency (Reg. 2). Notably, Regulation 4 designates the Repatriation Commission as the prescribed authority responsible for administering the benefits under the Act (Reg. 4(1)). This change ensures that any approvals, determinations, or actions taken by the previous authority remain valid post-amendment (Reg. 4(2)-(5)). Furthermore, the Regulations streamline the definitions, removing the term "native" and updating the terminology to reflect current standards (Reg. 2, 4, 9, 13). Under these Regulations, various obligations are imposed on the Repatriation Commission and other relevant authorities. The Repatriation Commission is mandated to manage and oversee the administration of benefits, including pensions and medical treatment, ensuring that all entitlements are correctly applied and managed (Reg. 4). This includes the responsibility to continue existing pensions and medical treatments without interruption, despite the change in the prescribed authority (Reg. 4(3)). Furthermore, claims and trustee appointments made before the commencement of these Regulations are to be treated as if they were made under the current framework (Reg. 4(4), (5)). Failure to comply with these Regulations may result in civil or criminal consequences, although specific offences and penalties are not detailed within the text provided. However, it is implied that breaches of these Regulations could potentially lead to legal action, with penalties that may be outlined in the principal Act or in other related legislation. Given the nature of these Regulations, penalties could range from fines to more severe sanctions, depending on the severity and intent of the breach.

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