NOTICE OF INVESTIGATION
Subsection 196B(7A) of the
Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986
The Repatriation Medical Authority (the Authority) gives notice that it intends to carry out an investigation under subsection 196B(7A) of the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 (the VEA) in respect of malignant neoplasm of the prostate as directed by the Specialist Medical Review Council (the SMRC) in Declaration No. 30 which was made under section 196W of the VEA and published in the Government Notices Gazette of 21 September 2016.
The investigation will review the sound medical-scientific evidence concerning smoking cigarettes, or the equivalent thereof in other tobacco products, and the clinical worsening of malignant neoplasm of the prostate having particular regard to the following matters:
a. determining evidence-based thresholds for pack-years of cigarettes, or the equivalent thereof in other tobacco products, smoked; and
b. where smoking has ceased, determining evidence-based thresholds for years since smoking cessation.
The investigation will be carried out in the context of Statements of Principles Instrument Nos. 53 & 54 of 2014 concerning malignant neoplasm of the prostate.
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 6 December 2016.
Persons and organisations wishing to make a submission can use the RMA website [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 2 December 2016.
The Common Seal of the )
Repatriation Medical Authority )
was affixed at the direction of: )
PROFESSOR NICHOLAS SAUNDERS AO
CHAIRPERSON 14 / 10 / 2016