NOTICE OF INVESTIGATION – MULTIPLE CONDITIONS –
INSTRUMENTS SUNSETTING ON 1 October 2025
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.: |
Achilles tendinopathy and bursitis | 96 & 97 of 2015 |
acute myeloid leukaemia | 71 & 72 of 2015, as amended |
arachnoid cyst | 91 & 92 of 2015 |
cardiomyopathy | 85 & 86 of 2015, as amended |
cerebrovascular accident | 65 & 66 of 2015, as amended |
depressive disorder | 83 & 84 of 2015, as amended |
external burn | 110 & 111 of 2015, as amended |
gastric ulcer and duodenal ulcer | 61 & 62 of 2015, as amended |
hallux valgus | 98 & 99 of 2015 |
hepatitis A | 63 & 64 of 2015 |
hepatitis E | 112 & 113 of 2015 |
ingrowing nail | 106 & 107 of 2015 |
lipoma | 100 & 101 of 2015, as amended |
malignant melanoma of the skin | 102 & 103 of 2015 |
malignant neoplasm of bile duct | 69 & 70 of 2015, as amended |
malignant neoplasm of gallbladder | 89 & 90 of 2015, as amended |
Meniere's disease | 108 & 109 of 2015 |
tuberculosis | 81 & 82 of 2015 |
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 4 April 2023.
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 16 March 2023.
The Common Seal of the ) Repatriation Medical Authority ) was affixed at the direction of: ) | |
| PROFESSOR TERENCE CAMPBELL AM CHAIRPERSON 21 / 10 / 2022 |
Overview
The Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 (VEA) was enacted by the Commonwealth Parliament to provide a framework for the entitlements of veterans and their dependants, ensuring that they receive appropriate recognition and support for any injuries or illnesses sustained or contracted during their service. This Act was introduced to address the need for a comprehensive legal structure that acknowledges and compensates veterans for their service-related conditions. The Repatriation Medical Authority (the Authority), under section 196G of the VEA, has issued a notice of intention to conduct investigations into various medical conditions affecting veterans, aiming to review Statements of Principles to determine if there is new information regarding the causation and extent of these conditions. This initiative seeks to ensure that the criteria and recognition of veterans' conditions remain current and reflective of the latest medical understanding. The Authority invites relevant stakeholders, including eligible claimants, representative organisations, and experts, to submit written feedback by 16 March 2023, facilitating an inclusive review process that considers diverse perspectives on the impact of these conditions.
Scope and Application
The Repatriation Medical Authority (the Authority) under section 196G of the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 (the VEA) has announced its intention to conduct investigations into various Statements of Principles concerning specific medical conditions that may be suffered or contracted by eligible persons, or result in death, particularly in relation to whether these conditions can be attributed to war-related, defence-related, service injuries, diseases, or deaths. These investigations are aimed at determining if new information is available about the listed conditions and their possible connections to service, with the purpose of informing the Authority's findings and decisions. The Authority invites submissions from a range of stakeholders, including individuals eligible to claim pensions or compensation, representative organisations, and experts in relevant fields, to provide insights and evidence that may impact the review process. Submissions must be submitted by 16 March 2023, either electronically via the RMA website, by email, or by post, with the RMA providing guidelines and support for the submission process. These investigations are specifically targeted at the listed medical conditions, and the Authority's scope is limited to the information and submissions received in relation to these conditions.
Key Provisions
Under the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 (VEA), the Repatriation Medical Authority (the Authority) has announced its intention to conduct investigations into the contents of Statements of Principles concerning a range of medical conditions (section 196G). These conditions include Achilles tendinopathy and bursitis, acute myeloid leukaemia, arachnoid cyst, cardiomyopathy, cerebrovascular accident, depressive disorder, external burn, gastric ulcer and duodenal ulcer, hallux valgus, hepatitis A, hepatitis E, ingrowing nail, lipoma, malignant melanoma of the skin, malignant neoplasm of bile duct, malignant neoplasm of gallbladder, Meniere's disease, and tuberculosis. These investigations are set to take place following the Authority's first meeting on 4 April 2023, with a submission deadline of 16 March 2023 for interested parties.
The Authority's primary objective in these investigations is to ascertain whether new information has emerged regarding how the listed conditions may be contracted or how death from these conditions may occur, and to what extent these conditions or deaths may be attributable to war, defence, service injury, service disease, or service death. This is a comprehensive review aimed at ensuring that the criteria and understanding of these conditions are up-to-date and accurate. To facilitate this process, the Authority has invited submissions from eligible claimants, representatives of affected groups, the Repatriation Commission or the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission, and individuals with relevant expertise. Submissions can be made electronically via the RMA website, by email, or by post, and should adhere to the RMA Submission Guidelines available online.
The obligations placed on the parties and entities governed by the VEA include the requirement for the Authority to conduct these investigations and to consider all relevant submissions received by the specified deadline. Eligible claimants, representative organisations, and experts are expected to submit their written contributions, which should provide any new insights or evidence pertinent to the listed conditions. The Authority is also obligated to ensure that all submissions are treated with due consideration and that the review process is thorough and impartial. Additionally, the Authority must ensure that the findings of these investigations are communicated appropriately to all relevant stakeholders, including those who submitted evidence.
Failure to comply with the requirements of the VEA or to submit relevant information within the specified timeframe may result in significant consequences. While the legislation does not explicitly outline specific offences or penalties for non-compliance in this context, it is reasonable to infer that breaches could lead to legal actions or other administrative consequences. The Authority may have the power to disregard submissions that do not meet the required standards or are submitted late, potentially impacting the outcomes of the investigations. Furthermore, any failure to cooperate or provide necessary information could be viewed as an obstruction of the review process, which might lead to further scrutiny or penalties as deemed appropriate by the relevant authorities.