Repatriation Medical Authority - Notice of Investigation - suicide and attempted suicide

Overview

The Repatriation Medical Authority, pursuant to Section 196G of the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986, announced its intention to conduct an investigation into Statements of Principles Instrument Nos. 11 and 12 of 2010, which pertain to suicide and attempted suicide. The objective of this investigation is to ascertain any new information regarding the occurrence of suicide or attempted suicide, and to determine the extent to which these incidents may be attributed to war, defence, service injury, service disease, or service death. This initiative seeks to address gaps in understanding and recognition of the mental health impacts on veterans, thereby ensuring that appropriate entitlements and support are available. The Authority invites submissions from eligible individuals and organisations, including those with relevant expertise, to contribute to the review process. The policy objective is to enhance the support framework for veterans by ensuring comprehensive and accurate recognition of their experiences and needs.

Scope and Application

The Repatriation Medical Authority (the Authority) under the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 (the VEA) is conducting an investigation into the contents of Statements of Principles Instrument Nos. 11 and 12 of 2010, which concern suicide and attempted suicide. This investigation is intended to review and update the understanding of how such incidents may occur and their potential causation by war, defence activities, service injuries, service diseases, or service deaths. The scope of the investigation includes individuals eligible to make claims under Part II or Part IV of the VEA or under section 319 of the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004, organisations representing veterans or their dependants, and experts in relevant fields. The Authority invites these entities to submit written submissions by 20 November 2015, with detailed guidelines available on the RMA website or through the RMA Secretariat. The investigation will officially commence on 1 December 2015.

Key Provisions

The notice of investigation under section 196G of the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 (the VEA) indicates that the Repatriation Medical Authority (the Authority) intends to carry out an investigation into the contents of Statements of Principles Instruments Nos. 11 and 12 of 2010, focusing on suicide and attempted suicide (section 196B(7)). The Authority is mandated to review whether there is new information available regarding how suicide or attempted suicide may occur and the extent to which these events may be classified as war-caused, defence-caused, a service injury, a service disease, or a service death (section 196G). Persons and organisations eligible to make written submissions to the Authority include individuals who are eligible to make a claim for pension under Part II or Part IV of the VEA, individuals eligible to claim compensation under section 319 of the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004, organisations representing veterans and other specified groups, the Repatriation Commission or the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission, and individuals with expertise relevant to the investigation. These submissions are intended to provide input into the Authority’s review process and must be received by the Authority no later than 20 November 2015 (section 196G). The obligations imposed on parties include the requirement for eligible individuals and organisations to submit written submissions within the specified timeframe. Submissions must adhere to the guidelines provided by the RMA, which can be obtained from the RMA website or by contacting the RMA Secretariat. The Authority will convene its first meeting for this investigation on 1 December 2015, and all submissions must be received prior to this date to be considered. Breach of the requirements to submit written submissions by the specified deadline may result in the Authority proceeding with the investigation without the benefit of the submissions. While the notice does not explicitly state penalties for non-compliance, the seriousness of the investigation and the potential impact on veterans’ entitlements suggest that failure to comply could be viewed critically. The potential consequences could include the exclusion of relevant input from the review process, possibly leading to decisions that do not fully reflect the interests and experiences of the affected parties.