NOTICE OF INVESTIGATION
Subsection 196B(7A) of the
Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986
The Repatriation Medical Authority (the Authority) gives notice that it intends to carry out an investigation under subsection 196B(7A) of the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 (the VEA) in respect of chronic lymphoid leukaemia as directed by the Specialist Medical Review Council (the SMRC) in Declaration No. 22 which was made under section 196W of the VEA and published in the Government Notices Gazette of 26 November 2013.
The investigation will review the following matters:
a. the classification and naming of haematopoietic cancers, in particular chronic lymphoid leukaemia, chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, small lymphocytic lymphoma and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma; and
b. whether there is sound medical-scientific evidence to justify the inclusion of 'non-ionising radiation', 'benzene', 'herbicides, pesticides and dioxin (separately or in combination)', 'asbestos', 'other aromatic hydrocarbons' and 'AV gas and associated chemicals in relation to aircraft fuel tank de-seal and reseal activities' as a factor or factors in Statements of Principles Instrument Nos. 9 and 10 of 2005, concerning chronic lymphoid leukaemia.
The Authority invites the following persons and organisations to make written submissions to the Authority in respect of the investigation:
a person eligible to make a claim for pension under Part II or Part IV of the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986;
a person eligible to make a claim for compensation under section 319 of the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (the MRCA);
an organisation representing veterans, Australian mariners, members of the Forces, members of the Peacekeeping Forces, members within the meaning of the MRCA, or their dependants;
the Repatriation Commission or the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission; and
a person having expertise in a field relevant to the investigation.
The Authority will hold its first meeting for the purposes of this investigation on 18 February 2014.
Under the VEA, the Authority is required to find out whether there is new information available about how chronic lymphoid leukaemia may be suffered or contracted, or death from chronic lymphoid leukaemia may occur, and the extent to which chronic lymphoid leukaemia or death from chronic lymphoid leukaemia may be war-caused, defence-caused, a service injury, a service disease or a service death. Persons and organisations wishing to make a submission should obtain a copy of the RMA Submission Guidelines from the RMA website [www.rma.gov.au] or by contacting the RMA Secretariat at the address or telephone number below.
All submissions must be in writing and received by the Authority at the address below no later than 3 February 2014.
It should also be noted that this investigation will be conducted in conjunction with the investigation under subsection 196B(7) of the VEA to review the contents of Statements of Principles Instrument Nos. 9 & 10 of 2005 concerning chronic lymphoid leukaemia advertised by the Authority in the Australian Government Notices Gazette of 3 November 2010.
The Common Seal of the )
Repatriation Medical Authority )
was affixed at the direction of: )
PROFESSOR NICHOLAS SAUNDERS AO
CHAIRPERSON 13/12/2013