NOTICE OF INVESTIGATION
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 an investigation under subsection 196B(7) of the VEA to review the contents of Statements of Principles Instrument Nos. 37 & 38 of 2008 concerning adjustment disorder.
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 1 October 2014.
Under the VEA, the Authority is required to find out whether there is new information available about how adjustment disorder may be suffered or contracted, or death from adjustment disorder may occur, and the extent to which adjustment disorder or death from adjustment disorder 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 12 September 2014.
The Common Seal of the )
Repatriation Medical Authority )
was affixed in the presence of: )
PROFESSOR NICHOLAS SAUNDERS AO
CHAIRPERSON 14/03/2014
Overview
The Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 (VEA) was enacted to provide a legislative framework for the administration of benefits and services for veterans and their families. One of its key provisions is the establishment of the Repatriation Medical Authority (the Authority), which is responsible for making determinations on medical matters related to veterans' entitlements. In 2014, the Authority announced its intention to conduct an investigation under section 196G of the VEA to review the contents of Statements of Principles Instrument Nos. 37 & 38 of 2008 concerning adjustment disorder. This investigation aims to determine whether there is new information regarding how adjustment disorder may be suffered or contracted, its potential war-related causes, and the extent to which it may be considered a service injury or disease. The Authority invited submissions from eligible individuals, organisations representing veterans and their dependants, and experts in relevant fields, with a deadline of 12 September 2014 for written submissions. This initiative was undertaken by the Repatriation Medical Authority, as mandated by the VEA, to ensure that the entitlements of veterans are accurately and comprehensively assessed.
Scope and Application
The Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 (VEA) applies to individuals who are eligible to make claims for pension or compensation under the Act, as well as to organisations representing veterans and related groups. The Repatriation Medical Authority (RMA) is mandated to investigate claims and conditions related to service-related disabilities and deaths, including reviewing Statements of Principles concerning specific conditions such as adjustment disorder. The investigation under section 196G of the VEA is intended to determine if there is new information regarding the causation and extent of adjustment disorder in the veteran population. This legislation operates at the Commonwealth level and applies nationally, with the RMA having the authority to extend or restrict its application through subordinate instruments. Persons and entities eligible to make submissions include those who are eligible for claims under the VEA or the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004, organisations representing affected groups, and experts in relevant fields. There are no specific exclusions or thresholds mentioned in this notice, and all interested parties are invited to submit their written submissions by the specified deadline.
Key Provisions
The Repatriation Medical Authority (the Authority), under section 196G of the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 (VEA), has announced its intention to investigate Statements of Principles Instrument Nos. 37 & 38 of 2008 concerning adjustment disorder. This investigation aims to review new information regarding how adjustment disorder may be suffered or contracted, and the extent to which it may be considered war-caused, defence-caused, a service injury, a service disease, or a service death (section 196B(7)). The Authority is inviting submissions from eligible claimants, representatives of various groups, and experts in relevant fields to contribute to this investigation.
Parties and entities governed by the VEA, including eligible claimants, representatives of veteran and military groups, the Repatriation Commission or the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission, and experts with relevant expertise, are required to provide written submissions by 12 September 2014. These submissions should be made in accordance with the RMA Submission Guidelines, which are available on the RMA website or can be obtained by contacting the RMA Secretariat. The first meeting of the investigation will be held on 1 October 2014, as stated in the notice.
Failure to comply with the requirements of the VEA and the RMA Submission Guidelines could result in consequences for the parties involved. While specific offences, penalties, or civil/criminal consequences for non-compliance are not detailed in the provided text, the importance of adhering to the deadlines and guidelines suggests potential repercussions for parties that do not submit timely and appropriate information. The Authority's focus on gathering comprehensive and accurate submissions indicates a commitment to ensuring that all relevant information is considered in the investigation.