Veterans’ Entitlements, Treatment and Support (Simplification and Harmonisation) Act 2025 (Cth)

Veterans' Entitlements, Treatment and Support (Simplification and Harmonisation) Act 2025

No. 17, 2025

An Act to amend the law relating to veterans' affairs and military rehabilitation and compensation, and for related purposes

Contents 1 Short title 2 Commencement 3 Schedules 4 Review of operation of amendments 5 Review of amendments in Schedule 9 Schedule 1—Single ongoing Act main amendments Part 1—Closing eligibility to DRCA and VEA Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence‑related Claims) Act 1988 Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 Part 2—Opening MRCA to pre‑2004 conditions Division 1—Accepted DRCA and VEA conditions Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 Division 2—Classifying pre‑2004 operations Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 Division 3—Retesting claims Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 Division 4—Needs assessment Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 Division 5—Service injuries, diseases and deaths arising from treatment Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 Part 3—Other amendments Division 1—Permanent impairment Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 Division 2—Incapacity payments Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence‑related Claims) Act 1988 Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 Division 3—Liability restrictions on tobacco use Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 Division 4—Medical event on duty Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 Division 5—Posthumous permanent impairment payments Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 Division 6—Overpayments and debts Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence‑related Claims) Act 1988 Division 7—Payment to solicitor's trust account Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 Division 8—Common law damages Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 Division 9—Information sharing Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence‑related Claims) Act 1988 Division 10—Offsetting Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 Division 11—Rehabilitation Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence‑related Claims) Act 1988 Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 Division 12—Motor Vehicle Compensation Scheme Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 Division 13—Financial and legal advice Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 Schedule 2—Single ongoing Act enhancements Part 1—Amendments relating to allowances etc. Division 1—Compensation for funeral expenses Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence‑related Claims) Act 1988 Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 Division 2—Acute support package Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 Division 3—Household and attendant care Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 Division 4—Victoria Cross allowance and decoration allowance Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 Division 5—Prisoner of war ex gratia payments Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 Social Security and Veterans' Affairs Legislation Amendment (One‑off Payments and Other 2007 Budget Measures) Act 2007 Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 Veterans' Entitlements (Clarke Review) Act 2004 Division 6—Education schemes Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 Division 7—Additional compensation for children of severely impaired veterans Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 Division 8—Special assistance Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 Division 9—Repeals Compensation (Japanese Internment) Act 2001 Part 2—Amendments relating to treatment Division 1—Travel for treatment arrangements Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence‑related Claims) Act 1988 Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 Division 2—Treatment arrangements Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 Part 3—Presumptive liability Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 Part 4—Additional disablement amount Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 Schedule 3—Review pathway Part 1—Amendments commencing 60 days after Royal Assent Division 1—Main amendments Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence‑related Claims) Act 1988 Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 Division 2—Application and transitional provisions Military Rehabilitation and Compensation (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Act 2004 Part 2—Amendments commencing later Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence‑related Claims) Act 1988 Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 Schedule 4—Merging commissions Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence‑related Claims) Act 1988 Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 Schedule 5—Repatriation Medical Authority and Specialist Medical Review Council Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 Schedule 6—Disability compensation cessation date Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 Schedule 7—Application and transitional provisions Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 Military Rehabilitation and Compensation (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Act 2004 Schedule 8—Consequential amendments Part 1—Main amendments Aged Care Act 1997 Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission Act 2018 Aged Care (Transitional Provisions) Act 1997 Age Discrimination Act 2004 A New Tax System (Family Assistance) Act 1999 Australian Participants in British Nuclear Tests and British Commonwealth Occupation Force (Treatment) Act 2006 Australian Veterans' Recognition (Putting Veterans and Their Families First) Act 2019 Child Support (Assessment) Act 1989 Child Support (Registration and Collection) Act 1988 Data‑matching Program (Assistance and Tax) Act 1990 Defence Force Discipline Act 1982 Dental Benefits Act 2008 Disability Discrimination Act 1992 Health Insurance Act 1973 Higher Education Support Act 2003 Housing Australia Future Fund Act 2023 Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 My Health Records Act 2012 National Cancer Screening Register Act 2016 National Health Act 1953 Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988 Social Security Act 1991 Student Assistance Act 1973 Superannuation Act 1976 Treatment Benefits (Special Access) Act 2019 Part 2—Contingent amendments Defence Act 1903 Schedule 9—Defence and Veterans' Services Commission Part 1—Main amendments Defence Act 1903