NOTICE OF INVESTIGATION – MULTIPLE CONDITIONS – INSTRUMENTS SUNSETTING ON 1 April 2028
Section 196G of the
Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986
The Repatriation Medical Authority (the Authority) gives notice under section 196G of the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 (the VEA) that it intends to carry out investigations under subsection 196B(7) of the VEA to review the contents of Statements of Principles concerning the following:
Condition: | Instrument Nos.: |
osteoarthritis | 61 & 62 of 2017 |
substance use disorder | 59 & 60 of 2017 |
immune thrombocytopaenia | 63 & 64 of 2017 |
ulnar neuropathy at the elbow | 65 & 66 of 2017 |
malignant neoplasm of the cerebral meninges | 3 & 4 of 2018 |
cerebral meningioma | 1 & 2 of 2018 |
non-freezing cold injury | 5 & 6 of 2018 |
malignant neoplasm of the ovary | 9 & 10 of 2018 |
migraine | 7 & 8 of 2018 |
frostbite | 11 & 12 of 2018 |
hepatitis C | 13 & 14 of 2018 |
Zika virus infection | 15 & 16 of 2018 |
Guillain-Barre syndrome | 23 & 24 of 2018 |
popliteal cyst | 31 & 32 of 2018 |
toxic retinopathy | 19 & 20 of 2018 |
systemic sclerosis | 25 & 26 of 2018 |
malignant neoplasm of the eye | 27 & 28 of 2018 |
chilblains | 29 & 30 of 2018 |
accidental hypothermia | 21 & 22 of 2018 |
personality disorder | 17 & 18 of 2018 |
The Authority invites the following persons and organisations to make written submissions to the Authority in respect of any of the investigations:
a person eligible to make a claim for pension under Part II or Part IV of the VEA;
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 each of these investigations on 2 December 2025.
Under the VEA, the Authority is required to find out whether there is new information available about how the above listed conditions may be suffered or contracted, or death from the above listed conditions may occur; and the extent to which the above listed conditions or death from the above listed conditions may be war-caused, defence-caused, a service injury, a service disease or a service death.
Persons and organisations wishing to make a submission can use the RMA website http://www.rma.gov.au/investigations/ to electronically lodge the submission and supporting information. Alternatively, submissions can be sent by email to info@rma.gov.au or posted to the address below. The RMA Submission Guidelines are available online for guidance. The RMA Secretariat may be contacted at the address, telephone number or email address below for further assistance.
All submissions must be in writing and received by the Authority no later than 11 November 2025.
By and on behalf of Repatriation Medical Authority: | |
| PROFESSOR TERENCE CAMPBELL AM CHAIRPERSON 26 August 2025 |
Repatriation Medical Authority
GPO Box 1014, Brisbane, Qld 4001
Telephone: (07) 3815 9404 Email: info@rma.gov.au
Overview
The Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 (VEA), enacted by the Commonwealth Parliament, was established to provide various forms of financial and medical assistance to Australian veterans and their families. The Act addresses the gap by ensuring that veterans who have served in the Australian Defence Force are provided with the necessary support for their health conditions and rehabilitation needs. The Repatriation Medical Authority, acting under the VEA, has announced its intention to conduct investigations into multiple medical conditions to review the Statements of Principles concerning various illnesses and injuries suffered by veterans. This initiative aims to determine whether these conditions are war-caused, defence-caused, or service-related, thereby ensuring that veterans receive appropriate benefits and recognition for their service-related health issues.
Scope and Application
The Repatriation Medical Authority (the Authority) under the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 (the VEA) has announced its intention to investigate specific conditions listed in various instruments, as part of its ongoing review to determine the extent to which these conditions may be linked to military service. The investigation applies to individuals who are eligible to make claims for pension or compensation under the VEA or the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004, as well as to organisations representing veterans, Australian mariners, and their dependants, among others. The scope of the investigation is national, and the Authority welcomes submissions from relevant stakeholders. Submissions must be made in writing and should be received by the Authority no later than 11 November 2025. The Authority's findings will inform the ongoing assessment of the war-related or service-related nature of these conditions, and potentially influence future entitlements and compensation for affected veterans.
Key Provisions
The Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 (VEA) under section 196G provides the Repatriation Medical Authority (the Authority) with the power to investigate certain conditions that may be related to military service. Section 196B(7) of the VEA enables the Authority to review the contents of Statements of Principles (SoPs) concerning various conditions that veterans may have suffered or contracted during their service. The Authority has announced its intention to review SoPs related to a range of conditions, including osteoarthritis, substance use disorder, immune thrombocytopaenia, and others, as specified in the Gazette. The aim of these investigations is to ascertain new information about how these conditions may be suffered or contracted, and to determine the extent to which they may be related to military service.
The Authority is responsible for conducting these investigations and must follow the procedures outlined in the VEA. This includes inviting submissions from relevant parties, such as veterans eligible for pension or compensation claims, organisations representing veterans or their dependents, and experts in relevant fields. The Authority must also ensure that all submissions are received by the specified deadline, which in this case is 11 November 2025. The Authority is mandated to hold its first meeting for each investigation on 2 December 2025 to discuss the submissions and any new information gathered.
Under the VEA, the Authority has the obligation to thoroughly review the evidence and submissions provided by interested parties to determine if there is new information about the listed conditions and their potential links to military service. The Authority must also consider the extent to which these conditions may be considered war-caused, defence-caused, a service injury, a service disease, or a service death. This process ensures that the Authority can make informed decisions about the eligibility of veterans for certain benefits and compensations.
Failure to comply with the requirements of the VEA, such as not submitting required information or not adhering to the deadlines, may result in legal consequences. While specific offences and penalties are not detailed in the Gazette, the VEA and related legislation may impose civil or criminal penalties for non-compliance, depending on the severity and intent of the breach. These penalties could include fines or other legal actions, which aim to ensure that the Authority's investigations are conducted properly and fairly.