Collins v Repatriation Commission [2009] FCAFC 90

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Collins v Repatriation Commission [2009] FCAFC 90

ADMINISTRATIVE LAW – veteran's entitlements – widow's pension – decision of Administrative Appeals Tribunal that veteran's death was not "war-caused" – appeal dismissed by primary judge – Tribunal found that the cause of death was pulmonary embolism – widow accepted that pulmonary embolism was not war-caused – Tribunal found that ischaemic heart disease was not a cause of death, but that the death would not have occurred as and when it did but for ischaemic heart disease – whether if a medical condition contributes to the death of a veteran only by affecting its timing, it is an error of law on the part of the Tribunal to conclude that for the purposes of the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 (Cth), the cause of death does not include that medical condition Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975 (Cth) s 44 Veterans' Affairs (1994-95 Budget Measures) Legislation Amendment Act 1994 (Cth) Veterans' Affairs (1994-95 Budget Measures) Legislation Amendment Bill 1994 (Cth) Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 (Cth) ss 8, 120, 120A, 196B T Honoré, "Necessary and Sufficient Conditions in Tort Law" in DG Owen (ed) Philosophical Foundation of Tort Law (Oxford University Press, 2004) EJ Weinrib, "A Step Forward in Factual Causation" (1975) 38 Modern Law Review 518 Workers Compensation, The Laws of Australia,(Law Book Co) Corcoran, "Theories of Statutory Interpretation" in Corcoran and Bottomley (eds) Interpreting Statutes (The Federation Press, 2005)

Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd v GSF Australia Pty Ltd (2005) 221 CLR 568 discussed Barnett v Chelsea and Kensington Hospital Management Committee [1969] 1 QB 428 discussed Benjamin v Repatriation Commission (2001) 70 ALD 622 discussed Bonnington Castings Ltd v Wardlaw [1956] AC 613 cited Brown v Repatriation Commission [2006] FCA 914 cited Byrnes v Repatriation Commission (1993) 177 CLR 564 cited Commonwealth v Butler (1958) 102 CLR 465 discussed Doolette v Repatriation Commission (1990) 21 ALD 489 discussed Elna Australia Pty Ltd v International Computers (Australia) Pty Ltd (1987) 16 FCR 410 cited Environmental Agency v Empress Car Co (Abertillery) Ltd [1999] 2 AC 22 cited Fogarty v Repatriation Commission [2003] FCAFC 136 cited Gates v The City Mutual Life Assurance Society Limited (1986) 160 CLR 1 cited Henville v Walker (2001) 206 CLR 459 cited Jobling v Associated Dairies Ltd [1982] AC 794 cited Kerry v England [1898] AC 742 discussed Langley v Repatriation Commission (1993) 43 FCR 194 cited Project Blue Sky Inc v Australian Broadcasting Authority (1998) 194 CLR 355 cited Repatriation Commission v Codd (2007) 95 ALD 619 discussed Repatriation Commission v Cooke (1998) 90 FCR 307 cited Repatriation Commission v Deledio (1998) 83 FCR 82 applied Repatriation Commission v Hancock (2003) 37 AAR 383 applied Repatriation Commission v Law (1980) 147 CLR 635 discussed Repatriation Commission v Law (1980) 31 ALR 140 discussed Repatriation Commission v Towns (2003) 38 AAR 77 cited Roads and Traffic Authority v Royal (2008) 245 ALR 653 cited Smith v Leech Brain & Co Ltd [1962] 2 QB 405 cited Travel Compensation Fund v Tambree t/as R Tambree and Associates (2005) 224 CLR 627 cited Von Hartmann v Kirk [1961] VR 544 discussed JUNE COLLINS v REPATRIATION COMMISSION