Hill v Repatriation Commission [2004] FCA 851

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Hill v Repatriation Commission [2004] FCA 851

VETERANS' AFFAIRS – claim for a disability pension under Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 (Cth) (VE Act) in respect of post traumatic stress disorder, psycho-active substance abuse or dependence and electrocution – whether the Administrative Appeals Tribunal erred in not following the decision-making process required by ss 120 and 120A of the VE Act and as explained in Repatriation Commission v Deledio (1998) 83 FCR 82 – whether the applicant's hypothesis connecting his diseases to his operational service was disproved beyond reasonable doubt

Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975 (Cth) Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 (Cth) ss 9(1), 13(1), 120, 120A Hill v Repatriation Commission (2001) 66 ALD 293; [2001] FCA 1775 cited Repatriation Commission v Hill (2002) 69 ALD 581; [2002] FCAFC 192 cited Byrnes v Repatriation Commission (1993) 177 CLR 564 applied Repatriation Commission v Keeley (2000) 98 FCR 108 cited Repatriation Commission v Gorton (2001) 110 FCR 321 cited Fogarty v Repatriation Commission [2003] FCAFC 136 cited Repatriation Commission v Deledio (1998) 83 FCR 82 applied Dunlop v Repatriation Commission [2003] FCAFC 201 applied Repatriation Commission v Crane [2004] FCAFC 86 cited Repatriation Commission v Whetton (1991) 31 FCR 513 cited Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs v Wu Shan Liang (1996) 185 CLR 259 applied Collins v Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs (1981) 58 FLR 407 applied Repatriation Commission v Thompson (1988) 44 FCR 20 applied Willcocks v Comcare (2001) 66 ALD 119 applied Waterford v The Commonwealth (1987) 163 CLR 54 applied Australian Broadcasting Tribunal v Bond (1990) 170 CLR 321 applied KENNETH NORMAN HILL v REPATRIATION COMMISSION D 13 of 2003 MANSFIELD J 1 JULY 2004 DARWIN