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 investigations under subsection 196B(7) of the VEA to review the contents of Statements of Principles concerning the following:
Condition: | Instrument Nos.: |
aortic stenosis | 21 and 22 of 2013, as amended |
goitre | 23 and 24 of 2013, as amended |
chronic gastritis and chronic gastropathy | 25 and 26 of 2013, as amended |
hyperthyroidism and thyrotoxicosis | 27 and 28 of 2013 |
hypothyroidism | 29 and 30 of 2013, as amended |
Hashimoto's thyroiditis | 31 and 32 of 2013, as amended |
Graves' disease | 33 and 34 of 2013, as amended |
colorectal adenoma | 35 and 36 of 2013 |
malignant neoplasm of the colorectum | 37 and 38 of 2013, as amended |
familial adenomatous polyposis | 39 and 40 of 2013 |
sleep apnoea | 41 and 42 of 2013 |
erectile dysfunction | 43 and 44 of 2013, as amended |
gingivitis | 45 and 46 of 2013, as amended |
periodontitis | 47 and 48 of 2013 |
periodontal abscess | 49 and 50 of 2013 |
malignant neoplasm of the anus and anal canal | 51 and 52 of 2013 |
fibrosing interstitial lung disease | 53 and 54 of 2013, as amended |
asbestosis | 55 and 56 of 2013 |
sudden unexplained death | 57 and 58 of 2013 |
malignant neoplasm of the larynx | 61 and 62 of 2013 |
hypertension | 63, as amended and 64 of 2013 |
gastro-oesophageal reflux disease | 65 and 66 of 2013 |
motor neurone disease | 67, as amended and 68 of 2013 |
The Authority invites the following persons and organisations to make written submissions to the Authority in respect of any of the investigations:
a person eligible to make a claim for pension under Part II or Part IV of the VEA;
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 each of these investigations on 7 April 2021.
Under the VEA, the Authority is required to find out whether there is new information available about how the above listed conditions may be suffered or contracted, or death from the above listed conditions may occur; and the extent to which the above listed conditions or death from the above listed conditions may be war-caused, defence-caused, a service injury, a service disease or a service death.
Persons and organisations wishing to make a submission can use the RMA website http://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 29 March 2021.
The Common Seal of the ) Repatriation Medical Authority ) was affixed at the direction of: ) | |
| PROFESSOR NICHOLAS SAUNDERS AO CHAIRPERSON 24 / 12 / 2020 |
Overview
The Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 (VEA) was enacted to provide for the payment of pensions, allowances, and other benefits to veterans and their families, addressing the need for comprehensive support systems for those who have served in the Australian Defence Force. The Act was developed by the Parliament of Australia with the primary policy objective of ensuring that veterans and their dependents are fairly compensated for any injuries or disabilities suffered as a result of their service. The Repatriation Medical Authority (the Authority), under section 196G of the VEA, has announced its intention to investigate the contents of Statements of Principles concerning a range of conditions, including aortic stenosis, goitre, chronic gastritis, and others, with a focus on determining the extent to which these conditions may be attributable to war-related or defence-related causes. This initiative aims to ensure that the information underpinning the eligibility criteria for veterans' benefits is accurate and up-to-date, reflecting the most current medical understanding and evidence.
Scope and Application
The Repatriation Medical Authority (the Authority) under the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 (the VEA) has announced its intention to conduct investigations into various Statements of Principles concerning a wide range of medical conditions, including aortic stenosis, goitre, chronic gastritis, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, and others as listed. These investigations are aimed at reviewing the contents of the Statements of Principles to determine new information about how these conditions may be suffered or contracted, and the extent to which these conditions or deaths from these conditions may be attributable to war, defence, service injury, service disease, or service death. The Authority is inviting submissions from eligible individuals, organisations representing veterans and their dependants, and experts in relevant fields to provide insights and information pertinent to these investigations. Submissions must be made in writing and received by the Authority no later than 29 March 2021. The Authority will hold its first meeting for each investigation on 7 April 2021, and submissions can be lodged electronically via the RMA website, by email, or by post. The scope of the Act extends to all persons eligible for pension or compensation claims under the VEA or the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004, and to relevant organisations and experts. The Authority’s investigations are part of a national effort to ensure that veterans’ entitlements are accurately assessed based on the most current medical information available.
Key Provisions
The Repatriation Medical Authority (the Authority) under section 196G of the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 (the VEA) intends to conduct investigations to review Statements of Principles concerning a list of conditions, including aortic stenosis, goitre, chronic gastritis, and others. The Authority seeks written submissions from various stakeholders such as eligible claimants, organisations representing veterans, and experts in relevant fields, inviting them to provide insights into the war-caused, defence-caused, service injury, service disease, or service death aspects of these conditions. Submissions can be made electronically, by email, or post, with a deadline of 29 March 2021. The first meeting for these investigations is scheduled for 7 April 2021.
The Act imposes specific obligations on the Authority to investigate and review the listed conditions, ensuring that the Statements of Principles reflect any new information that may affect veterans' entitlements. The Authority must consider submissions from eligible claimants, relevant organisations, and experts. Additionally, the Repatriation Commission and the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission are invited to participate, which ensures a comprehensive review process. The Authority is also required to provide clear guidelines and support to facilitate the submission process, ensuring that all stakeholders can effectively contribute to the investigations.
Failure to comply with the requirements set out in the VEA could result in civil or criminal consequences. While the specific penalties are not detailed in the text, breaches of legislative requirements typically entail legal action, fines, or other penalties as prescribed by the relevant laws. The Authority’s investigations and reviews are critical to ensuring that veterans receive the appropriate entitlements based on accurate and up-to-date information. Non-compliance with submission deadlines or providing false information could lead to further scrutiny or penalties under the Act.