Mason v Repatriation Commission [2000] FCA 1409

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Mason v Repatriation Commission [2000] FCA 1409

VETERANS' AFFAIRS – veterans' entitlements – disability pension – appeal from decision of Administrative Appeals Tribunal – whether veteran's lumbar spondylosis was war-caused – whether evidence satisfied Statement of Principles – whether reasonable hypothesis raised on evidence before Tribunal – whether Tribunal followed correct procedure under s 120 of Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 (Cth) - whether Statement of Principles correctly interpreted by Tribunal – whether s 119 of Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 (Cth) correctly applied – whether Tribunal imposed onus of proof on applicant - whether Tribunal erred in not providing written reasons for decision. Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975 (Cth) ss 42C, 43(2), (2A), (4), (5), 44(1) Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 (Cth) – ss 119, 120, 120A

Repatriation Commission v Stares (1996) 66 FCR 594 at 601 referred to Byrnes v Repatriation Commission (1993) 177 CLR 564 referred to Repatriation Commission v Deledio (1998) 83 FCR 82 at 97-98 referred to East v Repatriation Commission (1987) 16 FCR 517 at 533 referred to Connors v Repatriation Commission [2000] FCA 783 at par 19 referred to Harris v Repatriation Commission [2000] FCA 873 at par 32 referred to Lodkowski v Comcare (1998) 53 ALD 371 at 386 referred to Minister for Immigration & Ethnic Affairs v Wu Shan Liang (1996) 185 CLR 259 referred to Repatriation Commission v Gosewinckel [1999] FCA 1273 referred to Repatriation Commission v Bey (1997) 79 FCR 364 at 373 referred to Bushell v Repatriation Commission (1992) 175 CLR 408 at 424 referred to Re Dell and Repatriation Commission (1986) 9 ALD 596 at 600 referred to JAMES WILLIAM MASON V REPATRIATION COMMISSION VG 518 of 1998 WEINBERG J 10 OCTOBER 2000 MELBOURNE