NOTICE OF INVESTIGATION – OSTEOARTHRITIS – REPETITIVE ACTIVITIES OF THE UPPER LIMB
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, pursuant to subsection 196B(7A) of the VEA, it intends to carry out an investigation in respect of repetitive activities of the upper limb as a factor in osteoarthritis.
This investigation will be carried out in the context of Statements of Principles Instrument Nos. 61 & 62 of 2017, as amended, concerning osteoarthritis.
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 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 this investigation on 7 June 2022.
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 23 May 2022.
Note: This Notice of Investigation repeals the Notice of Investigation into osteoarthritis issued by the Repatriation Medical Authority on 15 March 2022, Ref C2022G00189.
The Common Seal of the ) Repatriation Medical Authority ) was affixed at the direction of: ) | |
| PROFESSOR TERENCE CAMPBELL AM CHAIRPERSON 31 / 3 / 2022 |
Overview
The Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 (VEA) is the primary piece of legislation governing the entitlements of veterans and their families in Australia. In 2022, the Repatriation Medical Authority (the Authority) under section 196G of the VEA, announced its intention to investigate the link between repetitive activities of the upper limb and osteoarthritis, as part of the Statements of Principles Instrument Nos. 61 & 62 of 2017. This investigation aims to fill the gap in understanding the impact of such activities on the development of osteoarthritis among veterans and other eligible individuals. The Authority invited submissions from various stakeholders, including veterans, organisations representing veterans and experts in relevant fields, to provide insights and information to aid in the investigation. The objective of this investigation is to better understand the relationship between repetitive upper limb activities and osteoarthritis, which may inform future policy and compensation decisions for affected individuals.
Scope and Application
The Repatriation Medical Authority (the Authority) under section 196G of the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 (the VEA) is conducting an investigation into the impact of repetitive activities of the upper limb as a factor in osteoarthritis, focusing on the context of Statements of Principles Instrument Nos. 61 & 62 of 2017, as amended. This investigation is specifically targeted at individuals who are eligible to make claims for pensions under Part II or Part IV of the VEA, or for compensation under section 319 of the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004, as well as organisations representing veterans and related groups. The Authority welcomes submissions from these stakeholders and experts with relevant expertise. Submissions must be submitted in writing by 23 May 2022, either electronically via the RMA website, by email, or by post, following the RMA Submission Guidelines available online. This investigation supersedes the previous Notice of Investigation issued on 15 March 2022.
Key Provisions
The main operative sections of the notice, section 196G of the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 (VEA), announce the intention of the Repatriation Medical Authority (the Authority) to conduct an investigation into repetitive activities of the upper limb as a factor in osteoarthritis (section 196G). This investigation pertains to Statements of Principles Instrument Nos. 61 and 62 of 2017, as amended, concerning osteoarthritis. The Authority seeks submissions from various parties, including eligible claimants for pensions or compensation, representatives of veterans and their dependants, the Repatriation Commission or the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission, and experts relevant to the investigation. Submissions must be submitted in writing by 23 May 2022, either electronically through the RMA website, by email, or by post. The RMA Secretariat provides further guidance and assistance regarding the submission process.
The obligations imposed on the parties by this Act primarily involve the submission of written information. Eligible claimants, representatives of veterans and their dependants, the relevant commissions, and experts in the field are required to submit their views and evidence to the Authority. These submissions should be made by the specified deadline and must comply with the RMA Submission Guidelines, which are available online. Additionally, the Authority has set a date for its first meeting to discuss this investigation, which is scheduled for 7 June 2022.
Under this notice, there are no direct offences or penalties specified for failing to comply with the requirements to submit information. However, the notice of investigation serves as a formal invitation for participation in the investigation process. Non-compliance with the submission guidelines or failure to provide requested information may result in the exclusion of relevant input from the investigation, potentially impacting the outcomes and considerations of the Authority's findings. The notice emphasises the importance of timely and accurate submissions to ensure a comprehensive investigation.
The notice clarifies that it replaces a previous Notice of Investigation issued on 15 March 2022, Ref C2022G00189. This update ensures that all relevant parties are aware of the current investigation parameters and submission deadlines. The notice is signed by Professor Terence Campbell AM, the Chairperson of the Repatriation Medical Authority, who affixed the Common Seal at the direction of the Authority on 31 March 2022. This formal documentation signifies the Authority's commitment to conducting a thorough investigation into the specified matter.