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. 47 & 48 of 2008, as amended by Instrument Nos. 47 & 48 of 2009, concerning eating 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 eating disorder may be suffered or contracted, or death from eating disorder may occur, and the extent to which eating disorder or death from eating 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 by the Commonwealth Parliament to provide financial and medical benefits to Australian Defence Force members and their families. The Act aims to address the needs of veterans and their dependants by ensuring they receive appropriate compensation and healthcare for injuries and diseases suffered or contracted during their service. The Repatriation Medical Authority (RMA), as part of its mandate under the VEA, intends to investigate the contents of Statements of Principles Instruments Nos. 47 & 48 of 2008, as amended by Instruments Nos. 47 & 48 of 2009, concerning eating disorders. This investigation aims to review new information on how eating disorders may be suffered or contracted and to determine the extent to which these conditions may be considered war-caused, defence-caused, a service injury, a service disease, or a service death. The RMA invites relevant individuals and organisations, including those eligible to claim under the VEA or the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004, as well as those with expertise in relevant fields, to submit written statements by 12 September 2014.
Scope and Application
The Repatriation Medical Authority (the Authority) under section 196G of the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 (the VEA) is conducting an investigation to review the contents of Statements of Principles Instrument Nos. 47 & 48 of 2008, as amended by Instrument Nos. 47 & 48 of 2009, concerning eating disorders. This investigation is aimed at discovering any new information regarding how eating disorders may be suffered or contracted, or how death from eating disorders may occur, and the extent to which these conditions may be war-caused, defence-caused, a service injury, a service disease or a service death. The Authority invites written submissions from eligible claimants under the VEA, persons eligible to make a claim under the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004, organisations representing veterans or their dependants, the Repatriation Commission or the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission, and individuals with relevant expertise. Submissions must be received by the Authority no later than 12 September 2014. The Authority's investigation is a Commonwealth-level initiative with a specific focus on understanding and potentially updating the conditions under which veterans and their dependants may claim benefits related to eating disorders.
Key Provisions
Under section 196G of the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 (VEA), the Repatriation Medical Authority (the Authority) has announced its intention to conduct an investigation into the contents of Statements of Principles Instruments Nos. 47 and 48 of 2008, as amended by Instruments Nos. 47 and 48 of 2009, specifically regarding eating disorders. The primary focus of this investigation (section 196B(7)) is to ascertain any new information about the causes, contraction, and war-related nature of eating disorders, as well as their potential classification as a service injury, service disease, or service death. The Authority is mandated by the VEA to gather comprehensive data to inform its findings on these matters.
The Authority imposes several obligations on the parties and entities it governs, including inviting submissions from specific groups. These include individuals eligible to make claims for pension or compensation, organisations representing various groups such as veterans and their dependents, and experts in relevant fields. The Repatriation Commission and the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission are also invited to contribute. Submissions must be made in writing and submitted to the Authority by 12 September 2014. The Authority has provided guidelines for submissions on its website [www.rma.gov.au] or through its Secretariat.
The legislation does not explicitly detail specific offences or penalties for non-compliance with the submission process, but it does outline the consequences of not adhering to the stipulated procedures. Failure to comply with the requirements to submit relevant information could potentially result in exclusion from the decision-making process and may affect the outcomes of the investigation, thereby impacting those eligible for claims or compensation. Additionally, any misrepresentation or failure to provide accurate information could lead to subsequent legal or administrative consequences.
The Authority's first meeting for this investigation is scheduled for 1 October 2014. This date serves as a critical deadline for the submission of written evidence and is a pivotal moment in the process of reviewing the Statements of Principles Instruments concerning eating disorders. All submissions must be received by the Authority by the specified date to be considered in the investigation, underscoring the importance of timely and accurate contributions from all invited parties.