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(4) of the VEA to find out whether Statements of Principles may be determined in respect of female sexual dysfunctions.
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 7 June 2016.
Under the VEA, the Authority is required to find out whether there is information available about how female sexual dysfunctions may be suffered or contracted, or death from female sexual dysfunctions may occur, and the extent to which female sexual dysfunctions or death from female sexual dysfunctions 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 20 May 2016.
The Common Seal of the )
Repatriation Medical Authority )
was affixed at the direction of: )
PROFESSOR NICHOLAS SAUNDERS AO
CHAIRPERSON 4 / 12 /2015
Overview
The Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986, enacted to address the entitlements and benefits for veterans, was amended to include the Repatriation Medical Authority (the Authority) conducting investigations into potential new entitlements. The Authority, under section 196G of the Act, has initiated an investigation into whether Statements of Principles can be determined in respect of female sexual dysfunctions, aiming to explore whether these conditions may be war-caused, defence-caused, a service injury, a service disease, or a service death. The Authority invites submissions from eligible individuals, representatives of veterans and other relevant groups, and experts in relevant fields to provide information that could aid in determining these entitlements. This investigation seeks to identify any available information regarding the occurrence, causation, and extent of female sexual dysfunctions related to military service, with submissions to be received by 20 May 2016. The policy objective is to ensure that veterans' entitlements are comprehensive and inclusive of all possible service-related conditions.
Scope and Application
The Repatriation Medical Authority, under section 196G of the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986, has announced its intention to investigate whether Statements of Principles should be determined in relation to female sexual dysfunctions. This investigation is aimed at determining if such dysfunctions may be considered war-caused, defence-caused, a service injury, a service disease, or a service death. The scope of the investigation includes soliciting written submissions from various stakeholders, including individuals eligible for pensions or compensation under the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 or the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004, organisations representing veterans or their dependants, the Repatriation Commission or the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission, and experts in relevant fields. Submissions are due by 20 May 2016, and the first meeting for this investigation is scheduled for 7 June 2016. The Authority is mandated to gather information on the prevalence, causation, and impact of female sexual dysfunctions among affected persons. The Act applies to Commonwealth jurisdiction and is not limited by specific geographic boundaries, covering all eligible persons and relevant organisations within the scope of the legislation.
Key Provisions
Section 196G of the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 (VEA) outlines the Repatriation Medical Authority's (the Authority) intention to conduct an investigation into the possibility of determining Statements of Principles regarding female sexual dysfunctions. This investigation seeks to ascertain whether such dysfunctions may be considered war-caused, defence-caused, a service injury, a service disease, or a service death. The Authority, through section 196B(4), invites written submissions from various stakeholders, including eligible claimants under the VEA and MRCA, relevant organisations, the Repatriation Commission or Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission, and individuals with expertise in fields pertinent to the investigation. These submissions are crucial for the Authority's assessment and must be submitted by 20 May 2016. The Authority's first meeting for this investigation is scheduled for 7 June 2016.
The obligations under the VEA for the Authority include comprehensively investigating the potential connections between female sexual dysfunctions and service-related factors, ensuring that all relevant information is considered. Submissions from eligible parties are not just encouraged but are essential for the Authority to make informed decisions. This requirement extends to specific groups such as veterans, their dependants, and experts in relevant fields, who are asked to provide detailed insights into how these dysfunctions might be related to military service. The Authority must review and evaluate all received submissions to form a basis for any future Statements of Principles.
Breach of the submission guidelines or failure to provide required information could lead to various consequences. Although the document does not explicitly state penalties or consequences for non-compliance, the critical nature of the submissions suggests that not adhering to the guidelines or missing the submission deadline could result in exclusion from the Authority's consideration process. This could potentially limit the scope of the investigation and affect the Authority's ability to make well-informed decisions regarding the recognition of female sexual dysfunctions as service-related conditions. Additionally, if the Authority finds that false or misleading information has been submitted, it could face scrutiny and potentially lead to further investigations into the conduct of the parties involved.