COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA

ELIZABETH THE SECOND, by the Grace of God Queen of Australia and Her other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth:

TO 

THE HONOURABLE PHILLIP GEORGE EVATT, D.S.C., LL.B.

GREETING:

WHEREAS by Letters Patent issued in Our name by Our Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia on 13 May 1983 We appointed you to be a Commissioner to inquire into and report upon certain matters relating to the use, and the effects in certain respects of the use, of chemical agents in the course of hostilities in Vietnam:

AND WHEREAS further Letters Patent were issued in Our name by Our Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia on 27 June 1984 the first-mentioned Letters Patent were varied so as to require you to furnish to Our Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia a report of the results of your inquiry no later than 31 January 1985 and to commence an epidemiological study relating to the morbidity of Australian national service personnel in Vietnam:

AND WHEREAS by Letters Patent issued in Our name by Our Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia on 3 August 1984 the Letters Patent of 27 June 1984 were revoked and the Letters Patent of 13 May 1983 were varied so as to require you to furnish to Our Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia a report of the results of your inquiry and your recommendations not later than 30 April 1985 or such later date as We may be pleased to fix:

AND WHEREAS it is desirable that further time be allowed for the completion of your inquiry and the submission of you report:

NOW THEREFORE We do, by these Our Letters Patent issued in Our name by Our Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia with the advice of the Federal Executive Council and pursuant to the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Australia, the Royal Commissions Act 1902 and other enabling powers, vary the Letters Patent issued on 13 May 1983, as affected by the Letters Patent issued on 3 August 1984, so as to require you to furnish to Our Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia a report of the results of your inquiry and your recommendations not later than 31 July 1985.

WITNESS His Excellency the Right Honourable Sir Ninian Martin Stephen, a member of Her Majesty’s Most Honourable Privy Council, Knight of the Order of Australia, Knight Grand Cross of The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Knight Grand Cross of The Royal Victorian Order, Knight Commander of The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Knight of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem, Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Force.

Dated 23 April 1985

Governor-General

By His Excellency’s Command,

Prime Minister