Repatriation Commission v Hill [2008] FCA 50

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Repatriation Commission v Hill [2008] FCA 50

ADMINISTRATIVE LAW – Decision under Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 (Cth) – whether AAT erred in finding that veteran did not suffer from post traumatic stress disorder – where medication definition of PTSD included exposure to severe stressor – whether decision required to be satisfied that veteran had as a matter of fact been exposed to severe stressor – whether that step preceded consideration of Deledio principles – whether that finding of fact necessary having regard to s 120(3) of Act and that PTSD Statement of Principles made exposure to severe stressor part of template for disease to be war-caused – whether s 120(3) thereby qualified need to a positive factual finding on matter also identified in Statement of Principles as relevant to hypothesis of whether PTSD war-caused ADMINISTRATIVE LAW – Decision under Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 (Cth) – claim for disability pension – whether AAT complied with decision-making process under ss 120(1) and (3) of the Act – whether Tribunal erred in finding veteran's alcohol dependence war-caused – whether material sufficient to fit template of Statement of Principles ADMINISTRATIVE LAW – Decision under Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 (Cth) – claim for invalidity service pension – whether AAT erred in finding veteran not permanently incapacitated for work as required by s 37AA ADMINISTRATIVE LAW – Decision under Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 (Cth) – whether AAT erred in finding that pathological gambling not war-caused – whether AAT erred in finding depressive illness not war caused – whether hypotheses fitted template of the Statement of Principles Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 (Cth) s 13 Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975 (Cth) s 44 Veterans' Entitlements (Invalidity Service Pension – Permanent Incapacity for Work) Determination 1999 s 37AA Hill v Repatriation Commission [2003] AATA 114 discussed Hill v Repatriation Commission (2004) 39 AAR 103 discussed Hill v Repatriation Commission [2006] AATA 925 discussed Repatriation Commission v Hill (2005) 142 FCR 88 discussed Collector of Customs (Tas) v Flinders Island Community Association (1985) 7 FCR 205 Hope v Bathurst City Council (1980) 144 CLR 1 referred to Vetter v Lake Macquarie City Council (2001) 202 CLR 439 referred to Re Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs; Ex parte Durairajasingham (2000) 168 ALR 407 referred to Commonwealth of Australia v Smith (1989) 18 ALD 224 referred to Roncevich v Repatriation Commission (2005) 222 CLR 115 referred to Comcare v Lees (1997) 151 ALR 647 referred to Benjamin v Repatriation Commission (2001) 34 AAR 270 discussed Repatriation Commission v Budworth (2001) 116 FCR 200 discussed Repatriation Commission v Cooke (1998) 90 FCR 307 discussed Repatriation Commission v Deledio (1988) 83 FCR 82 discussed Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs v Wu (1996) 185 CLR 259 cited Collector of Customs v Pozzolanic (1993) 43 FCR 280 cited Bushell v Repatriation Commission (1992) 175 CLR 408 referred to East v Repatriation Commission (1987) 16 FCR 517 referred to Bull v Repatriation Commission (2001) 188 ALR 756 referred to Willcocks v Comcare (2001) 66 ALD 119 cited Bushell v Repatriation Commission (1992) 175 CLR 408 referred to Repatriation Commission v Whetton (1991) 31 FCR 513 cited Mines v Repatriation Commission (2004) 86 ALD 62 followed Bushell v Repatriation Commission 175 CLR 408 discussed Byrnes v Repatriation Commission (1993) 177 CLR 465 discussed Repatriation Commission v Constable (2006) 151 FCR 391 discussed Repatriation Commission v Hill (2002) 69 ALD 581 discussed REPATRIATION COMMISSION v COLIN HILL NTD 20 OF 2006