NOTICE OF INVESTIGATION

Section 196G of the

Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986

The Repatriation Medical Authority (the Authority) gives notice under section 196G of the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 (the VEA) that it intends to carry out an investigation pursuant to subsection 196B(4) of the VEA to find out whether Statements of Principles may be determined in respect of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

The Authority invites the following persons and organisations to make written submissions to the Authority in respect of the investigation:

     a person eligible to make a claim for pension under Part II or Part IV of the VEA;

     a person eligible to make a claim for compensation under section 319 of the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (the MRCA);

     an organisation representing veterans, Australian mariners, members of the Forces, members of the Peacekeeping Forces, members within the meaning of the MRCA, or their dependants;

     the Repatriation Commission or the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission; and

     a person having expertise in a field relevant to the investigation.

The Authority will hold its first meeting for the purposes of this investigation on 2 June 2020.

Under the VEA, the Authority is required to find out whether there is information available about how coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may be suffered or contracted, or death from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may occur, and the extent to which coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) or death from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may be war-caused, defence-caused, a service injury, a service disease or a service death.  Persons and organisations wishing to make a submission can use the RMA website http://www.rma.gov.au/investigations/ to electronically lodge the submission and supporting information.  Alternatively, submissions can be sent by email to info@rma.gov.au or posted to the address below.  The RMA Submission Guidelines are available online for guidance.  The RMA Secretariat may be contacted at the address, telephone number or email address below for further assistance.

All submissions must be in writing and received by the Authority no later than 18 May 2020.