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 vomiting as a factor in tooth wear.
This investigation will be carried out in the context of Statements of Principles Instrument Nos. 52 & 53 of 2017 concerning tooth wear.
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 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 this investigation on 5 June 2018.
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 18 May 2018.
The Common Seal of the ) Repatriation Medical Authority ) was affixed at the direction of: ) | |
| PROFESSOR NICHOLAS SAUNDERS AO CHAIRPERSON 2 / 3 / 2018 |
Overview
The Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 (VEA) was enacted to provide a legislative framework for the provision of pensions, allowances, and other benefits to veterans and their dependants. One of its objectives is to address the health and welfare needs of veterans, including the recognition and compensation of service-related conditions. The Repatriation Medical Authority (RMA) under this Act has the responsibility to investigate and make recommendations regarding the connection between service and various health conditions, including those outlined in the Statements of Principles concerning tooth wear. This notice, issued under section 196G of the VEA, signals the RMA's intention to investigate vomiting as a factor in tooth wear, furthering the policy objective of ensuring that veterans receive appropriate recognition and compensation for their health conditions. This investigation seeks to gather comprehensive input from relevant stakeholders, including veterans, organisations representing veterans, and experts in relevant fields, to inform the RMA's findings and recommendations.
Scope and Application
The Repatriation Medical Authority, under section 196G of the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986, has announced an investigation into vomiting as a contributing factor to tooth wear, in line with the provisions of Statements of Principles Instrument Nos. 52 and 53 of 2017. This investigation is specifically targeted at persons eligible to make claims for pension or compensation under the Veterans' Entitlements Act or the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act, as well as organisations representing veterans or military personnel, and experts in relevant fields. The investigation is national in scope, affecting individuals and entities across Australia who fall within the specified categories. The Authority extends an invitation to these groups to submit written contributions by 18 May 2018, either electronically through the RMA website, via email, or by post, adhering to the guidelines provided by the Authority. Notably, the Act does not explicitly delineate exclusions or exemptions, implying that all eligible persons and entities are expected to participate unless otherwise specified through subordinate instruments.
Key Provisions
The main operative sections of the notice under section 196G of the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 (VEA) pertain to the announcement of an investigation into vomiting as a factor in tooth wear, in the context of Statements of Principles Instrument Nos. 52 & 53 of 2017 (section 196G). The notice invites eligible individuals and organisations to submit written information, including those eligible for pension or compensation under the VEA or the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004, representatives of veterans or their dependants, and those with relevant expertise (subsection 196B(7A)). The Authority has set a deadline of 18 May 2018 for all submissions, which can be lodged electronically through the RMA website, by email, or post. The first meeting for this investigation is scheduled for 5 June 2018.
The obligations imposed by this notice require eligible individuals and organisations to submit their written submissions by the stipulated deadline. Submissions should be made in accordance with the RMA Submission Guidelines, available on the RMA website. The Authority provides various means of communication, including email and postal addresses, to facilitate the submission process and to answer any queries. Failure to meet the submission deadline or to comply with the guidelines could potentially impact the relevance and admissibility of the submissions in the investigation.
Failure to comply with the requirements set out in the notice, such as not submitting written submissions by the deadline, could be seen as non-cooperation with the investigation. While specific civil or criminal consequences are not explicitly stated in the notice, non-compliance could potentially lead to the exclusion of certain evidence or viewpoints from the investigation, thereby impacting the outcomes and decisions made by the Authority. Additionally, the Repatriation Medical Authority may impose administrative penalties for non-compliance with notice provisions or other relevant legislative requirements.