EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
Statutory Rules No. 138
Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986
Veterans’ Entitlements Regulations (Amendment)
Issued by the authority of the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs
Section 216 of the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 (the Act) provides that the Governor-General may make regulations, not inconsistent with the Act, prescribing all matters which are by the Act required or permitted to be prescribed, or which are necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or giving effect to the Act.
These Regulations provided for increases with effect from 1 July 1988 in the rates of travelling expenses payable to veterans and their dependants for travel for treatment and pension purposes under sections 110 and 132 of the Act.
Details of the Regulations are set out below.
Regulation 1 - Commencement
Regulation 1 provided that the increased rates would become effective on 1 July 1988.
Regulation 2 - Travelling expenses under section 110 or 132 of the Act
Subsection 110(1) of the Act provides for the payment of prescribed travelling expenses in respect of approved travel in connection with treatment, restoration of health or fittings of articicial aids and applicances. Payment may be made to a veteran, a dependant of a deceased veteran or, by virtue of subsection 110(2), to a person authorised by the Repatriation Commission to accompany a veteran or dependant as an attendant.
Section 132 provides for payment of prescribed travelling expenses to a claimant for pension or a person likely to be affected by a review, or in certain circumstances, to an attendant of such a person.
Regulation 9 of the Principal Regulations prescribes the rates of travelling expenses payable under sections 110 and 132 and the conditions under which they may be paid.
Paragraphs 2(a) and 2(b) amended existing subregulations 9(8) and 9(10) of the Principal Regulations to substitute new, higher rates of travelling expenses that may be met where travel is undertaken in accordance with section 110 or 132 of the Act.
Paragraph 2(a) provided for an increase in the maximum amount payable in respect of commercial accommodation from $47.50 each night to $51.00 each night; paragraph 2(b) provided for an increase in the amount payable for breakfast and lunch from $6 to $15.50 and an increase in the amount payable for dinner from $14.50 to $15.50.