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, pursuant to subsection 196B(7A) of the VEA, it intends to carry out an investigation in respect of the following:
- experiencing a category 2 stressor; and
- experiencing a problem with a long-term relationship,
as factors in suicide and attempted suicide.
This investigation will be carried out in the context of Statements of Principles Instrument Nos. 65 & 66 of 2016, as amended, concerning suicide and attempted suicide.
Submissions
The Authority invites the following persons and organisations to provide comments or make written submissions to the Authority in respect of the review:
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.
First Meeting
The Authority will hold its first meeting for the purposes of this investigation on 5 December 2017.
Contact Details
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 telephone number or email address below for further assistance.
All submissions must be in writing and received by the Authority at the address below no later than 13 November 2017.
The Common Seal of the ) Repatriation Medical Authority ) was affixed at the direction of: ) | |
| PROFESSOR NICHOLAS SAUNDERS AO CHAIRPERSON 18 / 08 / 2017 |
Overview
The Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 (VEA) was enacted to provide pensions and other benefits to veterans and their families. This legislation was introduced to address the need for support and recognition of the sacrifices made by veterans and their families. The Act is overseen by the Repatriation Medical Authority (the Authority), which operates under the Commonwealth of Australia and aims to ensure that veterans receive appropriate care and compensation. In this context, the Authority has issued a Notice of Investigation under section 196G of the VEA, focusing on the factors contributing to suicide and attempted suicide among veterans, specifically examining the impact of experiencing a category 2 stressor and issues within long-term relationships. This investigation is being conducted in alignment with Statements of Principles Instrument Nos. 65 & 66 of 2016, as amended. The Authority has invited submissions from relevant stakeholders, including eligible claimants, organisations representing veterans, and experts in pertinent fields, to provide input on this critical matter. Submissions are due by 13 November 2017, with the first meeting scheduled for 5 December 2017.
Scope and Application
The Repatriation Medical Authority (the Authority) under section 196G of the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 (the VEA) is initiating an investigation into the factors contributing to suicide and attempted suicide among veterans, specifically focusing on experiencing a category 2 stressor and problems with long-term relationships. This investigation is conducted within the framework of the Statements of Principles Instrument Nos. 65 & 66 of 2016, as amended. The Authority extends an invitation to relevant stakeholders to provide comments or written submissions, including those eligible to make a claim for pension or compensation, organisations representing veterans or their dependants, the Repatriation Commission or Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission, and experts in relevant fields. Submissions can be made electronically through the RMA website, by email, or by post, and must be received by 13 November 2017. The first meeting for this investigation is scheduled for 5 December 2017.
Key Provisions
Section 196G of the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 (VEA) provides a mechanism through which the Repatriation Medical Authority (the Authority) can announce its intention to carry out an investigation into specified matters. In this instance, the Authority intends to investigate the role of experiencing a category 2 stressor and a problem with a long-term relationship as contributing factors in suicide and attempted suicide (section 196G(1)). This investigation will be contextualised by Statements of Principles Instrument Nos. 65 & 66 of 2016, as amended (section 196G(2)). The Authority is specifically seeking input from relevant stakeholders, including individuals eligible for certain claims under the VEA and the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (MRCA), organisations representing veterans and their dependants, and experts in relevant fields (section 196G(3)).
The Authority imposes several obligations on the parties it governs through this investigation. Primarily, it invites submissions from a broad range of stakeholders, including veterans and their dependants, relevant government commissions, and experts in relevant fields (section 196G(3)). These submissions are to be made in writing and must be lodged by 13 November 2017 either electronically via the RMA website, by email, or by post (section 196G(4)). The Authority has provided clear guidelines and contact information to assist with the submission process (section 196G(5)). Furthermore, the Authority will hold its first meeting on 5 December 2017 to formally commence the investigation (section 196G(6)).
Failure to comply with the obligations imposed by this legislation may result in adverse consequences. However, the document does not explicitly detail specific offences, penalties, or consequences for non-compliance in the context of this investigation. The penalties for breaches of the VEA or MRCA generally depend on the specific provisions being breached and are detailed in those respective Acts. For example, penalties for false or misleading statements under the VEA can include fines and imprisonment (section 235), while penalties for offences under the MRCA can include fines and imprisonment as well as civil penalties (Part 10). Given that the document focuses on the procedural aspects of the investigation, it is likely that any enforcement actions would be based on the broader legislative framework rather than the specific provisions outlined here.