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 pursuant to subsection 196B(7) of the VEA to find out whether Statements of Principles may be determined in respect of Gulf War syndrome.

The Authority invites the following persons and organisations to make written submissions to the Authority in respect of the investigation:

 any person eligible to make a claim for pension under Part II or Part IV of the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986;

 any 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

 any person having expertise in a field relevant to the investigation.

The Authority will hold its first meeting for the purposes of this investigation on 9 April 2013.

In 2003, following an investigation the Authority declared that it would not make a Statement of Principles concerning Gulf War syndrome for the purposes of subsection 196B(2) or (3) of the VEA, as the available sound medical-scientific evidence led the Authority to conclude that there was no unique Gulf War syndrome that could be a "disease" or "injury" as defined in section 5D of the VEA.

In 2010, following a review of their 2003 decision, the Authority concluded that available sound medical-scientific evidence continued to support the 2003 decision and re-affirmed that Gulf War syndrome is not a "disease" or "injury" as defined in section 5D of the VEA.

The Authority has decided to undertake a further review under 196B(7) to see if there is new information available to enable it to make a Statement of Principles in respect of "a particular kind of injury, disease or 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 5 April 2013.

The Common Seal of the  )

Repatriation Medical Authority )

was affixed in the presence of  )

PROFESSOR NICHOLAS SAUNDERS AO

CHAIRPERSON  22/10/2012