S 3 1934-1943

This Section includes years from 1934 to 1943.

1934

The Hon J A Lyons (UAP-Country Coalition) was the Prime Minister. The Minister for Repatriation was the Hon C W C Marr until 12 October 1934, when the Hon W M Hughes became the Minister for Repatriation.

re-grants where pension had been commuted;
in the case of death of a member due to war service, the widow would be eligible for widow's pension even though she was married after the time limit imposed in 1931 which was 1 October 1931;
the principle that soldiers suffering from Pulmonary Tuberculosis should receive pension at not less than full general rate was embodied in the Act;
by repeal of section 40, and thereby of the time limit of seven years in respect of dependants of deceased soldiers, the compensation paid to such dependants by way of living allowance was converted to war pension on an equal basis with dependants not affected by the time limit;
the allowance for a soldier suffering loss of vision in one eye was exempted from the Financial Emergency Act deductions and incorporated in the Act as an item of the Fifth Schedule;
the allowance payable under regulation as an attendant's allowance for a blinded soldier was also incorporated into the Act (Schedule 2), and the provisions for the same allowance for members suffering from spinal disease were broadened to include disabilities causing incapacity similar in effect and severity to spinal disease;
Section 45X of the Act was amended bringing about uniformity in the power of Appeal Tribunals to grant arrears of pension, thus an Assessment Appeal Tribunal was given the power to grant up to three months' arrears in certain cases and more in cases where the appeal followed an acceptance by an EAT; and
the Commission was empowered to grant up to three months arrears in the case of reinstatement of a pension that had been cancelled or relinquished.

1935

The Hon J A Lyons (UAP-Country Coalition) was the Prime Minister. The Minister for Repatriation was the Hon W M Hughes until 8 November 1935, when the Hon J A Lyons became the Minister for Repatriation.

approval was given for the treatment of venereal disease contracted on service;
the system of Service Pensions was introduced primarily for those with 'theatre of war' service. The Service Pension was subject to a 'means test' taking into account income received and property held, by the member or member and wife;
treatment and pension for non-war caused Pulmonary Tuberculosis was introduced (effective 1 January 1936);
dependants of Special Rate pensioners became eligible for benefits even though death of the member was not service related;
Commission required to give appellant ' the benefit of any reasonable doubt'; and
eligibility for Recreation Transport Allowance was widened to provide a '2-level' allowance. The higher rate is payable to a veteran, both of whose legs have been amputated above the knee, and to a Special Rate pensioner whose powers of locomotion are negligible. The lower rate is payable to a veteran who is blinded or who has two limbs amputated (if both legs, one must be above the knee) or a like incapacity.

1936

The Hon J A Lyons (UAP-Country Coalition) was the Prime Minister. The Minister for Repatriation was the Hon W M Hughes until 6 February1935, when the Hon W M Hughes became the Minister for Repatriation.

Allowance for dependent children was payable to a permanently incapacitated veteran;
Extension of eligibility for War Widows pension to widows of Totally and Permanently Incapacitated (TPI) Veterans;
Service Pension first paid under the Australian Soldiers' Repatriation Act 1935 by the Commonwealth Government, this Act was enacted 1 January 1936 allowing veterans earlier retirement than permitted by the civilian age pension; and
Service pension on the grounds of blindness was paid.

1937

The Hon J A Lyons (UAP-Country Coalition) was the Prime Minister. The Minister for Repatriation was the Hon W M Hughes until 29 November 1937, when Senator the Hon H S Foll became the Minister for Repatriation.

time limit in respect of eligibility of wives and children of incapacitated members advanced so that a wife married or child born before 30 June 1938 rather than before 1 October 1931 became eligible for benefits.

1938

The Hon J A Lyons (UAP-Country Coalition) was the Prime Minister. The Minister for Repatriation was the Senator the Hon H S Foll.

provision was made for Commission to administer pensions payable in respect of unmarried members afflicted with lunacy; and
the Government approved that assistance be paid for the burial expenses of South African (Boer) War veterans who die in indigent circumstances and entrusted the administration of this grant to the Repatriation Commission. The grant was restricted to those veterans who enlisted in Australia and embarked for service in South Africa.

1939

Until 7 April 1939 the Prime Minister was the Hon J A Lyons (UAP - Country Coalition). The Hon E C G Page (Country – UAP Coalition) became Prime Minister on 7 April 1939 until 26 April 1939 when the Hon R G Menzies became Prime Minister. Senator the Hon H S Foll remained the Minister for Repatriation, until 26 April 1939 when the Hon E J Harrison became the Minister for Repatriation.

3 September 1939, World War II commenced; and
Interdepartmental Committee to investigate provisions to be made for members of the Defence Force.

1940

The Hon R G Menzies (UAP-Country Coalition) was the Prime Minister. The Minister for Repatriation was the Hon E J Harrison until 14 March 1940, when the Hon G A Street became the Minister for Repatriation. Senator the Hon P A M McBride became the minister responsible for Repatriation from 14 August 1940 until 28 October 1940. As of 28 October 1940, Senator the Hon G McLeay was the Minister responsible for Repatriation.

the first provisions in respect of members, 1939 War, including members of the Army Nursing Service were enacted. They provided that the Commonwealth would be liable in respect of any member whose incapacity or death was directly attributable to his employment as a member of the Forces, and if the member was employed on active service outside Australia and the Territories, the Commonwealth would be liable where incapacity or death resulted from any 'occurrence' happening during the full period of service;
provision was made for Commission to administer pensions payable to unmarried members afflicted with lunacy; and
the Seamen's War Pensions and Allowances Act was introduced providing for pensions for mariners and dependants broadly along the lines of war pensions under the Repatriation Act including detention allowances in respect of mariners detained by the enemy.

1941

Until 29 August 1941 the Prime Minister was the Hon R G Menzies (UAP-Country Coalition). The Hon A W Fadden (Country – UAP Coalition) became Prime Minister on 29 August 1941, until 7 October 1941 when the Hon J Curtin (Labor Party) became Prime Minister. Senator the Hon G McLeay was the Minister for Repatriation, until 26 June 1941, when Senator H B Collett became the Minister responsible for Repatriation. Senator Collett was the Minister for Repatriation until 7 October, when the Hon C W Frost became the Mister for Repatriation.

an Interim Training Scheme introduced by Cabinet;
the first measures for rehabilitation appeared for members enlisted for service outside Australia. These were benefits of employment, sustenance while awaiting employment, tools of trade, supplementation of wages of apprentices and grants of up to five pounds for immediate assistance in necessitous circumstances;
regulation 90A was inserted in the regulations establishing the principle of compensation where a member was incapacitated or killed as a result of an accident while travelling on leave to or from his place of employment. It applied to a member who enlisted for service outside Australia where the accident occurred before the member proceeded (or could have proceeded) outside Australia;
children of blinded, deceased or Totally and Permanently Incapacitated (T&PI) members became eligible under the Soldiers' Children Education Scheme after attaining the age of 18 years;
Boer War veterans eligible to receive service pensions and treatment for tuberculosis; and
7 December 1941, Japan enters the War by attacking Pearl Harbour. The war in the Pacific proceeds. Theatre of war in New Britain, Papua and New Guinea commences.

1942

The Hon J Curtin (Labor) was the Prime Minister. The Minister for Repatriation was the Hon C W Frost.

19 February 1942, Darwin bombed;
14 March 1942, operational service in Torres Strait Islands began.
members of the Permanent Military or Air Forces who were previously excluded from the definition of 'member of the Forces' for the purposes of war pension and who were deemed to be employees within the meaning of the Superannuation Act were brought within the scope of the Repatriation Act;
members of the Women's Auxiliary Services became eligible for war pension and medical treatment [Regulation 5(2)];
members of the Royal Naval Nursing Service and Royal Australian Air Force Nursing Service became eligible for war pension and general benefits [Regulation 5(3)];
members enlisted for service only in Australia eligible for war pension in respect of 'aggravation' of a pre-war service condition [Regulation 5(4)];
extension to members enlisted for service only in Australia of the provision relating to war pension in respect of incapacity or death resulting from an accident to a member while travelling on leave to or from his place of employment (Regulation 6);
power to grant up to three months' arrears in claims for war pension by or in respect of members engaged in the 1939-45 War (Regulation 7);
maximum rate of service pension to a member came in line with the maximum rate of pension under the Invalid and Old Age Pensions Act (Regulation 8);
full medical treatment (for all disabilities) extended to blinded veterans;
Commission given the power to authorise transportation to Australia of a wife and children of a member who marries during the period of overseas service (Regulation 9);
Parliamentary Joint Committee examined established Repatriation legislation;
first of a number of War Cabinet minutes issued providing benefits, as an 'Act of Grace', to people engaged in war work but not members of the Forces, such as members of philanthropic organisations, war correspondents and others; and
Eligibility provisions were extended to include World War 2 veterans;

1943

The Hon J Curtin (Labor) was the Prime Minister. The Minister for Repatriation was the Hon C W Frost.

the constitution of the Commission was widened to permit up to five members (but not less than three members), and provision was made for the appointment of one or more Assistant Commissioners;
Act of Grace pensions introduced;
Temporary Total Incapacitated pensions introduced;
all determining authorities were to give 'benefit of doubt' with 'onus of proof' resting with them;
further extension of eligibility to provide disability pension for Pulmonary Tuberculosis not due to service for those who served in a 'theatre of war';
Section 48 introduced providing the terms in which a medical practitioner shall report on a claim for pension in respect of the incapacity or death of a veteran;
war pension and service pension provisions extended to all members of the Permanent Forces and to members of the Citizen Forces called up for continuous service. The general ground of liability to pay pension rather than being incapacity or death directly attributable to employment as a member was altered to read: "incapacity or death which has arisen out of or is attributable to service as a member". (Division 6 of Part III of the Act);
further benefits for direct re-establishment of members of the 1939-45 War:

loans of up to 250 pounds for businesses;
gifts of 75 pounds for furniture to members blinded or totally and permanently incapacitated or widows with dependent children;
fares for member (and family);
freight charges for removal of household belongings where a member is proceeding to employment; and
pending establishment of a complete scheme, a tentative vocational training scheme.

introduction of the provision of free medical or hospital treatment for all disabilities for members in receipt of 100 per cent or higher war pension; ex-service preference in employment; the time limit for recognition of wives as dependants was set at 15 years for World War 2 members;
provision introduced for payment of service pension to inmates of hospitals other than mental and benevolent asylums;
children of members suffering from tuberculosis, where the member was and had been continuously for a period of three years in receipt of the maximum special rate pension, became eligible for SCES benefits;
18 June 1943, end of theatre of war for service in the Torres Strait Islands;
12 November 1943, last bombing raid in the Northern Territory; and
Wife's pension eligibility for Partner Service Pension was extended to spouse of a permanently incapacitated veteran.

Source URL: https://clik.dva.gov.au/history-library/part-2-repatriation-history/s-3-1934-1943