Bawden v Repatriation Commission [2012] FCA 345

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Bawden v Repatriation Commission [2012] FCA 345 Citation: Bawden v Repatriation Commission [2012] FCA 345

Appeal from: Bawden v Repatriation Commission [2011] AATA 283

Parties: RODNEY CHARLES BAWDEN v REPATRIATION COMMISSION

File number: VID 466 of 2011

Judge: GRAY J

Date of judgment: 5 April 2012

Catchwords: DEFENCE AND WAR – veterans' entitlements – pension – war veteran who rendered operational service – claims that post traumatic stress disorder, alcohol dependence and depressive disorder were war-caused – whether Administrative Appeals Tribunal erred – whether diagnosis of post traumatic stress disorder involved determining causation – whether Tribunal erred in finding on balance of probabilities that alleged traumatic event was not traumatic – whether Tribunal erred in determining causation of alcohol dependence and depressive disorder – whether Tribunal failed to determine what hypothesis was raised by the material – whether Tribunal erred by making findings of fact at too early a stage – whether Tribunal erred in applying the wrong standard of proof in making those findings of fact

Legislation: Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975 (Cth) s 44 Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 (Cth) ss 13(1), 14, 15, 16(a), 18, 31, 120, 120(1), 120(3), 120(4), 120A, 120A(3), 120A(4), 120B, 120B(3), 120B(4), 196A, 196B, 196B(2), 196B(3)

Cases cited: Bawden v Repatriation Commission [2011] AATA 283, reversed Mines v Repatriation Commission [2004] FCA 1331 (2004) 86 ALD 62, followed Repatriation Commission v Budworth [2001] FCA 1421 (2001) 116 FCR 200, followed Repatriation Commission v Deledio (1998) 83 FCR 82, applied Repatriation Commission v Gorton [2001] FCA 1194 (2001) 110 FCR 321, cited Date of hearing: 10 November 2011