NOTIFICATION OF INTENTION TO CARRY OUT A REVIEW – SIGNAL TO NOISE RATIO HEARING LOSS
Section 196ZB of the
Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986
The Specialist Medical Review Council (the Council) has been asked under section 196Y of the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 (the Act) to review the 16 April 2026 declaration of the RMA that it does not propose to make a Statement of Principles concerning signal to noise ratio hearing loss for the purposes of subsection 196B(2) or (3) of the Act.
The Council gives notice under section 196ZB of the Act that it intends to carry out a review under section 196W of the Act of all the information available to the RMA when it made the 16 April 2026 declaration concerning signal to noise ratio hearing loss.
The following persons or organisations are invited to make written submissions to the Council:
- The Repatriation Commission;
- The Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission;
- A person eligible to make a claim for a pension under Part II or IV of the Act;
- A person eligible to make a claim for compensation under section 319 of the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004; and
- An organisation representing veterans, Australian Mariners, members of the Forces, members of Peacekeeping Forces or their dependants.
Written submissions must be received by 14 August 2026.
The Council will hold its first meeting for the purposes of this review after 14 August 2026. The location, date and time of the meeting for the hearing of oral submissions complementing written submissions will be advised to the persons/organisations that have asked for the review under section 196Y of the Act and those persons and organisations that make written submissions.
For advice on the preparation of written submissions contact the Registrar at SMRC.Registrar@smrc.gov.au. Submissions can be lodged with the Registrar by mail to PO Box 965, Brisbane, QLD 4001 or email (preferred) to SMRC.Registrar@smrc.gov.au.
Professor Christian Gericke
Convener
Overview
The Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986, enacted by the Commonwealth Parliament, was introduced to provide a comprehensive framework for the entitlement of veterans, their families, and dependants to various forms of compensation and rehabilitation services. A significant gap in this legislative framework was identified concerning the assessment and recognition of signal to noise ratio hearing loss among veterans. The Specialist Medical Review Council, pursuant to section 196Y of the Act, has been tasked with reviewing the declaration made by the Repatriation Medical Authority (RMA) on 16 April 2026, which stated it did not propose to make a Statement of Principles concerning signal to noise ratio hearing loss. The Council has announced its intention to review all information available to the RMA at the time of the declaration, inviting submissions from various stakeholders including the Repatriation Commission, the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission, eligible claimants, and organisations representing veterans and their dependants. Submissions are due by 14 August 2026, with the first meeting of the Council to discuss these submissions scheduled thereafter. The policy objective behind this review is to ensure a thorough and inclusive assessment process that accurately recognises the impact of signal to noise ratio hearing loss on veterans.
Scope and Application
The notification of intention to carry out a review under section 196ZB of the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 pertains to the Specialist Medical Review Council’s (the Council) evaluation of the 16 April 2026 declaration by the Repatriation Medical Authority (RMA) regarding the potential establishment of a Statement of Principles for signal to noise ratio hearing loss. This review applies to specific entities and individuals, including the Repatriation Commission, the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission, eligible claimants for pensions or compensation, and organisations representing various groups such as veterans, Australian Mariners, members of the armed forces, and their dependants. The scope of the review encompasses all information available to the RMA at the time of the declaration, inviting written submissions from interested parties by 14 August 2026. The Council, which will convene after this date to hear oral submissions, is empowered under section 196W of the Act to conduct this review, ensuring that the process is comprehensive and inclusive of relevant stakeholders. The jurisdictional reach of this review is under the Commonwealth, and while the Act itself sets the parameters, further details or extensions might be defined through subordinate instruments.
Key Provisions
Section 196ZB of the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 mandates that the Specialist Medical Review Council (Council) intends to conduct a review of the 16 April 2026 declaration by the Repatriation Medical Authority (RMA) regarding the decision not to propose a Statement of Principles concerning signal to noise ratio hearing loss. The Council, as per section 196Y, seeks to re-examine all the information available to the RMA at the time of the declaration. This review is open to submissions from specific entities, including the Repatriation Commission, the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission, eligible claimants for pensions or compensation, and organisations representing various groups such as veterans, Australian Mariners, and members of Peacekeeping Forces or their dependants.
The Act imposes certain obligations on the entities invited to submit written submissions. These submissions must be received by 14 August 2026, and they should be lodged with the Registrar at the SMRC either by mail to PO Box 965, Brisbane, QLD 4001, or preferably via email to SMRC.Registrar@smrc.gov.au. The Council will schedule its first meeting after this submission deadline to hear oral submissions that complement the written ones. The Registrar provides advice on the preparation of these submissions, which can be contacted at Registrar@smrc.gov.au.
Failure to comply with the submission requirements stipulated in the Act may result in various consequences. While the Act does not explicitly state penalties for non-compliance, the omission of required submissions might affect the comprehensiveness of the review process. The Council may not be able to consider all relevant perspectives if submissions are not made, potentially impacting the fairness and thoroughness of the review. Additionally, the Act's enforcement mechanisms might be invoked in more severe cases of non-compliance, though specific penalties are not detailed in this excerpt.