EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
STATUTORY RULES NO. 299
ISSUED BY AUTHORITY OF THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR VETERANS’ AFFAIRS
REPATRIATION (SPECIAL OVERSEAS SERVICE) ACT 1962
REPATRIATION (SPECIAL OVERSEAS SERVICE) REGULATIONS (AMENDMENT)
Under section 14 of the Repatriation (Special Overseas Service) Act 1962, the Governor-General may make regulations, not inconsistent with the Act, prescribing all matters which by the Act are required or permitted to be prescribed, or which are necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or giving effect to the Act.
The proposed regulations give effect to the Government’s 1982-83 Budget decisions to extend treatment, education benefits and funeral benefits to orphans whose deceased veteran parent served on special service.
Regulations 1,2 and 3 - Extension of benefits to orphans - Section 46A of the Repatriation Act 1920 extends pension to an orphan whose deceased veteran parent served in a theatre of war, irrespective of the rate of disability pension paid before his death or the relationship between death and service. Sections 6 and 7 of the Repatriation (Special Overseas Service) Act 1962 apply the provisions of section 46A of the Repatriation Act to orphan beneficiaries under the Repatriation (Special Overseas Service) Act.
The proposed regulations extend to orphans eligible for a pension under section 46A of the Repatriation Act, as applied by sections 6 and 7 of the Repatriation (Special Overseas Service) Act, benefits under the Regulations, namely, medical treatment, education benefits and funeral benefits.