Repatriation Commission v Van Heteren [2003] FCA 888

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Repatriation Commission v Van Heteren [2003] FCA 888

DEFENCE AND WAR – veterans' entitlements – special rate of pension – whether war-caused injury or disease alone render veteran incapable of undertaking remunerative work – gap between time veteran ceased work and diagnosis of war-caused disease which prevents veteran from working – whether Tribunal can disregard factors preventing veteran from engaging in work prior to development of war-caused disease – failure of Tribunal to identify type of remunerative work veteran previously undertook – necessary in order to ascertain whether disease or injury alone are the only factors preventing veteran from working and whether veteran suffering loss of income

Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 (Cth) ss 24(1)(c), 24(2)(a) Flentjar v Repatriation Commission (1997) 48 ALD 1 applied Forbes v Repatriation Commission (2000) 101 FCR 50 applied Repatriation Commission v Hendy [2002] FCAFC 424 applied Banovich v Repatriation Commission (1986) 69 ALR 395 applied Starcevich v Repatriation Commission (1987) 18 FCR 221 applied Cavell v Repatriation Commission (1988) 9 AAR 534 cited Moorcroft v Repatriation Commission (1999) 29 AAR 482 distinguished REPATRIATION COMMISSION v PETRUS WILHELMUS FRANCISCUS VAN HETEREN S398 OF 2003 FINN J 27 AUGUST 2003 CANBERRA (HEARD IN ADELAIDE)

IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

SOUTH AUSTRALIA DISTRICT REGISTRY DISTRICT REGISTRY S398 OF 2003

BETWEEN: REPATRIATION COMMISSION

APPLICANT

AND: PETRUS WILHELMUS FRANCISCUS VAN HETEREN

RESPONDENT

JUDGE: FINN J

DATE OF ORDER: 27 AUGUST 2003

WHERE MADE: CANBERRA (HEARD IN ADELAIDE)

THE COURT ORDERS THAT: 1. The application be allowed. 2. The decision of the Tribunal be set aside and the matter be remitted to the Tribunal to be heard and determined again. Note: Settlement and entry of orders is dealt with in Order 36 of the Federal Court Rules.