NOTICE OF INVESTIGATION – MULTIPLE CONDITIONS – INSTRUMENTS SUNSETTING ON 1 October 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.: |
tension-type headache | 37 & 38 of 2018 |
herpes simplex | 39 & 40 of 2018 |
electrical injury | 41 & 42 of 2018 |
Cushing syndrome | 43 & 44 of 2018 |
central serous chorioretinopathy | 45 & 46 of 2018 |
temporomandibular disorder | 47 & 48 of 2018 |
mesenteric panniculitis | 49 & 50 of 2018 |
bipolar disorder | 53 & 54 of 2018 |
panic disorder | 55 & 56 of 2018 |
cluster headache | 57 & 58 of 2018 |
macular degeneration | 59 & 60 of 2018 |
localised sclerosis | 61 & 62 of 2018 |
olecranon bursitis | 63 & 64 of 2018 |
knee bursitis | 65 & 66 of 2018 |
adrenal insufficiency | 71 & 72 of 2018 |
sinusitis | 73 & 74 of 2018 |
reactive arthritis | 75 & 76 of 2018 |
scrub typhus | 77 & 78 of 2018 |
bronchiolitis obliterans organising pneumonia | 79 & 80 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 7 April 2026.
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 28 March 2026.
By and on behalf of Repatriation Medical Authority: | |
| PROFESSOR TERENCE CAMPBELL AM CHAIRPERSON 17 / 10 / 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) was enacted to address the needs of Australian veterans by providing them with various forms of financial and medical support. The Act has been amended over the years to expand and refine the entitlements of veterans, ensuring that they receive appropriate compensation for service-related conditions and injuries. One such amendment, section 196G, empowers the Repatriation Medical Authority (the Authority) to investigate specific medical conditions potentially related to military service. This authority facilitates the review of Statements of Principles to ensure that the medical conditions and injuries listed are accurately and comprehensively covered under the Act. The Authority's role is crucial in adapting the legislation to new medical findings and evolving understandings of service-related ailments, thereby upholding the policy objective of providing timely and accurate support to veterans.
Scope and Application
The Repatriation Medical Authority (the Authority) under the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 (VEA) is conducting investigations into the contents of Statements of Principles concerning a range of specified medical conditions to determine if new information is available about how these conditions may be suffered, contracted, or if they may be war-caused, defence-caused, a service injury, a service disease, or a service death. The Act applies to persons eligible to make a claim for pension or compensation under the VEA or the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004, organisations representing veterans or their dependants, and individuals with expertise in relevant fields. The geographic reach of the Act is national, with the investigations being overseen by the Authority based in Brisbane, Queensland. The investigations will commence on 7 April 2026, and interested parties can submit written submissions by 28 March 2026 via the RMA website, email, or postal mail. There are no exclusions or thresholds specified in the notice, and the scope of the investigation may be extended or restricted through subordinate instruments.
Key Provisions
The Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 (VEA) under section 196G, as referenced in the gazetted notice C2025G00592, outlines the Repatriation Medical Authority’s (the Authority) intention to conduct investigations into specific conditions listed in Statements of Principles. The Authority seeks to review the criteria and evidence for these conditions to determine their war-related or service-related causes (s 196G). The targeted conditions include tension-type headache, herpes simplex, electrical injury, Cushing syndrome, and others, each identified by specific instrument numbers issued in 2018. The Authority's investigation aims to determine if there is new information available regarding these conditions, their causation, or their relation to military service.
The Authority imposes several obligations on parties and entities under the VEA. Eligible claimants, organisations representing veterans or related groups, the Repatriation Commission, and individuals with relevant expertise are invited to submit written evidence or opinions regarding the investigations (s 196G). Submissions must be lodged through the RMA website or by email or post, adhering to the RMA Submission Guidelines, and must be received by 28 March 2026. The first meeting for each investigation is scheduled for 7 April 2026, providing a clear timeline for participation.
Failure to comply with the requirements set forth in the notice may result in various consequences. The VEA does not explicitly state penalties for non-compliance in this context, but any breach of the submission guidelines or failure to provide required information could impact the Authority's assessment of the conditions under review. The consequences of such an impact could affect the eligibility and entitlements of claimants, potentially leading to denial or delay in pension or compensation claims. It is imperative that all submissions are accurate, timely, and fully compliant with the specified guidelines to avoid any adverse outcomes for the parties involved.