Repatriation Regulations (Amendment)

Legislation au C1963L00057 Regulations Not in force Legislative Instrument

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STATUTORY RULES.

1963. No. 57.

 

REGULATIONS UNDER THE REPATRIATION ACT 1920-1962.*

I, THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, hereby make the following Regulations under the Repatriation Act 1920-1962.

Dated this Twenty-seventh day of June, 1963.

DE LISLE

Governor-General.

By His Excellencys Command,

(Sgd) R. W. SWARTZ

Minister of State for Repatriation.

 

Amendments of the Repatriation Regulations.†

Treatment for disease, &c., not due to war service.

1. Regulation 66 of the Repatriation Regulations is amended by omitting paragraph (a) from sub-regulation (3.) and inserting in its stead the following paragraph:—

(a) an infectious or contagious disease in respect of which the member is required by law to undergo treatment in an institution without charge to the member;.

2.—(1.) Regulation 67 of the Repatriation Regulations is repealed and the following regulation inserted in its stead:—

Meaning of medical treatment.

67.—(1.) For the purposes of this Part, medical treatment means, subject to such qualifications as the Commission, with respect to any particular case or class of cases, from time to time determines, medicinal, surgical and all other forms of treatment with a view to restoring a person to, or maintaining a person in, physical or mental health or alleviating suffering, and includes, subject to the same qualifications, the supply, renewal and repair of artificial replacements and surgical and other aids and appliances..

(2.) The last preceding sub-regulation shall be deemed to have come into operation on the first day of April, 1963.

* Notified in the Commonwealth Gazette on 1st July, 1963.

† Statutory Rules 1943, No. 233, as amended by Statutory Rules 1945, No. 48; 1946, No. 182; 1947, Nos. 72, 106, 149 and 169; 1948, Nos. 38, 43, 80, 135 and 137; 1950, No. 96; 1951, Nos. 7 and 58; 1952, Nos. 7, 88 and 101; 1953, No. 6; 1956, Nos. 32, 73 and 101; 1958, No. 22; 1960, Nos. 56 and 60; 1961, Nos. 74 and 139; and 1962, No. 93.

3774/63.—Price 3d. 10/1.5.1963.


Sustenance allowance while undergoing medical treatment, &c.

3. Regulation 71 of the Repatriation Regulations is amended by omitting sub-regulation (3.) and inserting in its stead the following sub-regulation:—

(3.) Where a member is, with the authority of the Deputy Commissioner, receiving in-patient treatment at a hospital or similar institution for an incapacity due to war service and the total amount of—

(a) pension payable to the member and, if the member has a wife and children or a wife or children, in respect of his wife and children or wife or children, as the case may be; and

(b) sustenance allowance granted to the member under sub-regulation (1.) of this regulation,

during the period for which he is receiving that treatment is less than the total amount of pension payable for a like period to a member in receipt of the special rate of pension under the Second Schedule to the Act, and, if the member has a wife and children or a wife or children, in respect of his wife and children or wife or children, as the case may be, a Deputy Commissioner may, subject to the directions of the Commission, grant to the member a sustenance allowance or an additional sustenance allowance of a sum not exceeding the difference between those amounts..

Funeral expenses.

4. Regulation 179 of the Repatriation Regulations is amended by adding at the end thereof the following sub-regulation:—

(3.) Subject to the next succeeding sub-regulation, a Deputy Commissioner may grant a sum, not exceeding Ten pounds, towards the funeral expenses of a member—

(a) who, until his death, was in receipt of a service pension under Division 5 of Part III. of the Act; or

(b) who had made application for the grant of, and but for his death before the determination of the application would, in the opinion of the Commission, have been granted, a service pension under that Division.

(4.) The last preceding sub-regulation does not authorise—

(a) the payment of an amount towards the funeral expenses of—

(i) a member referred to in sub-regulation (1.) of this regulation; or

(ii) a deceased age or invalid pensioner as defined by section 54 of the Social Services Act 1947-1962; or

(b) the payment towards the funeral expenses of a member of an amount which, when added to an amount payable in respect of the funeral expenses of the member from a contributory funeral benefit fund (other than such a fund conducted by a friendly society or a trade union) would exceed the amount of those expenses..


Extension of certain provisions to 1914–1918 members (home service).

5. Regulation 194 of the Repatriation Regulations is amended—

(a) by omitting from sub-regulation (2.) the words (except regulation 73); and

(b) by omitting paragraph (a) and (b) of sub-regulation (2.) and inserting in their stead the following paragraphs:—

(a) any reference to a member shall be read as a reference to a 1914-1918 member (home service);

(b) any reference to a wife or to a child has the same meaning in relation to a 1914-1918 member (home service) as, by virtue of the last preceding regulation, it has in relation to a 1914-1918 member (general service); and

(c) a reference to a widow has the same meaning in relation to a 1914-1918 member (home service) as, by virtue of the last preceding regulation, it has in relation to a 1914-1918 member (general service)..

 

By Authority: A. J. Arthur, Commonwealth Government Printer, Canberra.

Overview

The Repatriation Act 1920-1962 was enacted to provide benefits to ex-service personnel who had served in the military and were in need of medical treatment, pensions, or other forms of assistance due to their service. The Act was administered by the Commonwealth Parliament, which established the Repatriation Commission to oversee the implementation and management of the Act's provisions. The Repatriation Regulations 1963, made under the authority of the Repatriation Act, sought to address specific issues and gaps in the existing regulatory framework by amending and updating certain provisions. The policy objective behind these amendments was to refine and enhance the delivery of benefits and services to eligible ex-service personnel, ensuring they received appropriate medical treatment, financial support, and other necessary assistance.

Scope and Application

The Repatriation Regulations, 1963, amend and revise the provisions under the Repatriation Act 1920-1962. These regulations primarily concern the provision of medical treatment and sustenance allowances for members who are receiving in-patient treatment for incapacities due to war service. The Act applies to members and their families who are eligible for pensions or benefits under the Repatriation Act. The regulations also extend to members who were part of the 1914-1918 service, including those who served at home. The provisions cover the entire Commonwealth of Australia and are applicable nationwide. However, there are certain exclusions, such as the prohibition of payment towards the funeral expenses of certain members and deceased age or invalid pensioners as defined by the Social Services Act 1947-1962. The Act also sets a limit of Ten Pounds for funeral expenses grants. The application of these regulations may be further refined or extended through subordinate instruments, ensuring that the provisions remain relevant and effective in addressing the needs of eligible members and their families.

Key Provisions

The Statutory Rules of 1963, No. 57, made under the Repatriation Act 1920-1962, contain several key amendments and insertions to the Repatriation Regulations. For instance, Regulation 66 has been amended to redefine the conditions under which members are required to undergo treatment for infectious or contagious diseases (section 1). Regulation 67 has been completely replaced with a new definition of "medical treatment," which encompasses various forms of treatment aimed at restoring or maintaining health or alleviating suffering, and includes the provision of artificial replacements and aids (section 2). Regulation 71 has been amended to allow for a sustenance allowance or additional sustenance allowance for members undergoing in-patient treatment for war service-related incapacity, if their current pension and sustenance allowance total is less than the special rate pension (section 3). Furthermore, Regulation 179 has been amended to permit a Deputy Commissioner to grant up to ten pounds towards the funeral expenses of certain members (section 4). Lastly, Regulation 194 has been amended to extend certain provisions to members who served in home service during 1914-1918 (section 5). These regulations impose specific obligations on the Repatriation Commission and Deputy Commissioners. They must determine the qualifications for medical treatment and ensure that the sustenance allowance or additional sustenance allowance is granted as appropriate (Regulation 67, section 2(1)). Deputy Commissioners are required to assess and grant funeral expenses as per the amended Regulation 179 (section 4). They must also extend certain provisions to 1914-1918 home service members in accordance with the updated Regulation 194 (section 5). For breaches of these regulations, the Repatriation Act 1920-1962 may impose penalties, although the specific penalties are not detailed in the Statutory Rules of 1963, No. 57. The Repatriation Act could impose civil or criminal penalties for non-compliance, depending on the nature and severity of the breach. Given that the Repatriation Act includes provisions for penalties in cases of fraud or misuse of benefits, it is likely that breaches of the regulations could result in fines or other civil penalties, and potentially criminal charges in more severe cases. However, the exact penalties would need to be determined based on the specific breach and the provisions of the Repatriation Act.

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