S 7 1974-1983

This Section includes years from 1974 to 1983.

l974

The Hon E G Whitlam (Labor) was the Prime Minister. The Minister for Repatriation was Senator the Hon R Bishop until 12 June 1974 when Senator the Hon J M Wheldon became the Minister responsible for Repatriation and Compensation.

1 January 1974, United Nations Disengagement Observer force commenced as a Peacekeeping Force;
Entitlement Assessment Appeal Tribunals commenced giving reasons for decisions, officially, from 1 June 1974;
'reasons for decision' trials conducted by the remaining Repatriation Boards from l July l974 to 30 September 1974;
On 7 November 1974, Domestic Allowance paid in conjunction with the War Widows Pension was increased from $19.00 per fortnight to $24.00 per fortnight.
free medical and hospital treatment extended for any condition for all Australian Prisoners of War;
free medical and hospital treatment for cancer available to all Australian veterans irrespective of area of service;
Special Compensation Allowance was abolished, balanced in most cases by a corresponding increase in war pension;
tenure of office of members of Repatriation Boards amended to allow appointments for less than two years;
provision was made for the Secretary to the Department of Repatriation and Compensation to be appointed as Chairman of the Commission;
right of appeal to Tribunals extended to seamen under the Seamen's War Pensions and Allowances Act; and
control of training schemes (except SCES) transferred to the Department of Employment and Industrial Relations.

l975

The Hon E G Whitlam (Labor) was the Prime Minister until 11 November 1975, when the Hon J M Fraser (Liberal) became the caretaker Prime Minister. The Minister for Repatriation and Compensation was Senator the Hon J M Wheeldon, until 11 November 1975, the Hon D L Chipp became the minister responsible for Repatriation and Compensation. After the election of 22 December 1975, the Hon K E Newman became the Minister responsible for Repatriation.

Boards commenced giving reasons for decisions in Entitlement cases officially as from l January 1975;
Commission commenced giving reasons for decisions in Entitlement cases officially as from 5 May 1975;
19 May 1975, extension of eligibility for service pension to ex-members of the Defence Forces of British Commonwealth countries, provided they have served in a theatre of war, have had at least ten years residency in Australia and satisfy the means test;
June 1975, Report of the Independent Inquiry into the Repatriation System presented to the Government by the Hon Mr Justice Toose;
a further 25 per cent of disability pension, bringing the total to 50 per cent, disregarded as income for calculating 'means as assessed;
abolition of the means test for service pensioners and Schedule 3 AMS pensioners aged 70 to 74 years;
abolition of the Transitional Benefit payable to certain blind service pensioners;
fifty per cent of Disability Pensions now exempt from the assessment of Service Pension;
Service Pension free of means test at age 70 or over; and
removal of the $30 limit on transportation of the remains of eligible deceased persons.

1976

The Prime Minister was the Hon J M Fraser (Liberal). The Minister for Repatriation was the Hon K E Newman until 8 July 1976, when Senator the Hon P D Durack became the Minister responsible for Repatriation (the portfolio was changed to Veterans' Affairs).

1 July 1976, United Nations Emergency Force Two commenced as a Peacekeeping Force;
the Department became Department of Veterans' Affairs on 22 September 1976.
legislation enacted for main disability pensions to be indexed to the Consumer Price Index with effect from 4 November; and
the means test on service provisions replaced by an income test as from 25 November, property was disregarded in the assessment of Service Pensions and Allowances, including eligibility for Fringe Benefits. Provision was made to maintain service pensions at existing rates where the operation of the income test would have caused a reduction; and
the Report on the Independent Non Parliamentary Inquiry into the Repatriation System, undertaken by the Hon Mr Justice Toose CBE, tabled in Parliament.

1977

The Prime Minister was the Hon J M Fraser (Liberal). The Minister for Veterans' Affairs was Senator the Hon P D Durack until 6 September when the Hon R V Garland became the Minister responsible for Veterans' Affairs.

section 47 of the Repatriation Act was amended with effect from 16 June and provided that determining authorities be not bound by technicalities, legal forms or rules of evidence and act according by substantial justice; and
trials conducted for Boards to give reasons for decisions in assessment cases from 19 September to 11 November.

1978

The Prime Minister was the Hon J M Fraser (Liberal). The Minister for Veterans' Affairs was the Hon R V Garland until 4 July 1978 when the Hon A E Adermann became the Minister responsible for Veterans' Affairs.

Repatriation Boards and the Commission commenced giving 'reasons for decisions' in assessment cases officially from 1 May;
Assessment Appeal Tribunals commenced giving 'reasons for decisions' from 1 July;
1 November 1978, Loss of Earnings Allowance introduced, the creation of this allowance introduced a significant change from sustenance allowance in that the veteran had to have actually lost wages, salary or earnings;
2 November 1978, section 37 of the Act repealed resulting in the deletion of special references in the Act to pulmonary tuberculosis, incapacity from which was to be assessed in the same way as that for any other disability and pension for it paid at varying rates accordingly. This led to the medical review which commenced in October to determine the extent of actual incapacity from tuberculosis and other disabilities;
provision was made for the main Repatriation pensions to be increased only once a year after November 1978;
income-test-free service pension provisions modified. Pensioners eligible for income-test-free service pension were not paid the November increase unless they qualified for it under the provisions of the income test. Persons reaching the age of 70 automatically qualify for an income-test-free pension but at the May 1978 rates or at such higher level as applies to them if able to satisfy the existing income test;
Eligibility for Service Pension on the grounds of Pulmonary Tuberculosis ceases to apply;
Sustenance Allowance was replaced by Loss of Earnings Allowance whereby the veteran must provide evidence of actual loss of earnings due to the necessities of treatment for an accepted disability or because of investigation of a claim (effective 5 October);
Commission decided to bring Subsistence Allowance in line with the rates applicable to the Public Service allowances; and
eligibility of student children for service pension restricted to those under age 25.

1979

The Prime Minister was the Hon J M Fraser (Liberal). The Minister for Veterans' Affairs was the Hon A E Adermann.

17 May 1979, telephone rental concessions were also extended to British Commonwealth veterans;
re-introduction, with effect from 22 August 1979, of free comprehensive medical treatment for veterans who were receiving a disability pension for pulmonary tuberculosis prior to 2 November 1978;
August/September a feasibility study was conducted on a new system of reporting to determining authorities;
24 December 1979, Commonwealth Monitoring Force in Zimbabwe commenced as a Peacekeeping Force;
re-introduction of twice-yearly indexation of the main Repatriation pensions in line with movements in the Consumer Price Index;
extension of eligibility for Pensioner Health Benefits to British Commonwealth veterans and dependants who receive an Australian service pension, and whose income is below the prescribed levels;
all authorised rail travel to be by first class;
a separate and independent Repatriation Review Tribunal was established. The new Tribunal combines the functions of the EATs and AATs, but reviews decisions which are the subject of applications before it, rather than to rehear claims or applications on appeal;
further avenues of appeal made available on questions of law to the Federal Court and finally to the High Court; and
Personal Treatment Entitlement Cards issued to all pensioners eligible for free medical, and hospital treatment under regulation 66 and war widows. These cards dispense with the need for doctors and dentists to hold treatment entitlement cards and the need to issue cards to pensioners required to travel for treatment purposes.

1980

The Prime Minister was the Hon J M Fraser (Liberal). The Minister for Veterans' Affairs was the Hon A E Addermann, until 3 November 1980 when Senator the Hon A J Messner became the Minister responsible for Veterans' Affairs.

7 February 1980, extension of service pension to veterans who served in formally raised allied Forces, served in a theatre of war, at no time served in Enemy Forces and have resided in Australia for not less than ten years;
23 May 1980, War Graves Act passed by Parliament. The Act recognised the establishment, care and maintenance of Australian War Graves and creates the position of Director of Australian War Graves;
1 November 1980, a new Temporary Incapacity Allowance introduced. A veteran whose stay in hospital together with post-hospital convalescence or other treatment on a full-time basis for a service-related disability exceeds 28 days is entitled to the allowance. Maximum rate of this allowance is equal to the Special Rate (T&PI) pension less any disability pension being received by the veteran;
13 November 1980, Australian mariners who were prisoners-of-war and veterans with service related amputation or loss of vision in one eye, who do not qualify on other grounds, will be eligible for free medical treatment for all conditions; and
50 per cent of Disability Pension exempt from assessment for Reg 66 benefits.

1981

The Prime Minister was the Hon J M Fraser (Liberal). The Minister for Veterans' Affairs was Senator the Hon A J Messner.

eligibility for pensions for incapacity or death extended to Australian peacekeeping forces who served overseas on or after 2 November 1981;
Amendment to Section 86 to prevent a person from receiving a war widows pension in respect of one veteran and also receiving a service pension as a dependent female in respect of another;
amendments to the Repatriation Act in relation to the definition of deprivation for service pension and benefits;
50 per cent of a veteran's disability pension disregarded for the purpose of determining entitlement for fringe benefits. This brings assessment for fringe benefit entitlement into line with assessment for service pension entitlement for which half of any disability pension is already disregarded; and
precedent decisions such as those handed down by the High Court in the case of Mrs Nancy Law, by the Federal Court in the cases of Bowman and Collins, and the cases of Foulger and Lennell resulted in a higher level of approval at all levels of the Repatriation Determining System.

1982

The Prime Minister was the Hon J M Fraser (Liberal). The Minister for Veterans' Affairs was Senator the Hon A J Messner.

4 February 1982, Australian, Commonwealth and Allied Mariners who served in theatres of war in the 1939-45 war, subject to residency requirements were made eligible for the service pension;
18 February 1982, Sinai Multinational Force and Observers established by the Protocol between the Arab republic of Egypt and the State of Israel dated 3 August 1981 commenced as a Peacekeeping Force;
28 October 1982, extension of Service Pension eligibility to certain Commonwealth and Allied merchant mariners who served in WW II and satisfy a 10 year residency requirement;
11 November 1982, Repatriation cover extended retrospectively to members of the Australian Peacekeeping Forces since the end of World War II;
11 November 1982, Basic Income Limit for Service Pension Assessment increased from $40 to $80 per fortnight standard rate and $34.50 to $50 per fortnight for married rate;
from January and November respectively, 60 per cent and 100 per cent of any disability pension received by a veteran was disregarded as income for the purposes of the Service Pension income test and the fringe benefits income test;
Repatriation Amendment Bill 1982 repealed Section 49 of the Repatriation Act;
Vietnam Veterans' Counselling Service established;
members of Australian Peacekeeping Forces serving overseas after 2 November 1982 were made eligible for Repatriation compensation benefits;
extension of benefits (excluding Service Pension) to members of Australian Peacekeeping Forces for service prior to 2 November 1982;
pensioners receiving rent assistance as government renters were no longer able to receive rent assistance. A savings provision was introduced which protected those pensioners already receiving assistance;
extension of eligibility for double orphans pension to children whose father was a member of the forces or a merchant mariner and had served in a theatre of war;
increase to the maximum rate of Service Pension and changes to the method of assessment of Supplementary Assistance;
extension of treatment eligibility to all World War 2 veterans receiving 50 per cent Disability Pension and Service Pension; and
benefits previously provided under an Act of Grace now provided under the Repatriation legislation.

1983

The Prime Minister was the Hon J M Fraser (Liberal) and the Minister for Veterans' Affairs was Senator the Hon A J Messner, until the election of 11 March 1983. The Hon R J L Hawke (Labor) was elected as Prime Minister. The Minister responsible for Veteran's Affairs was Senator the Hon A T Gietzelt.

From 6 January 1983, Disability Pension at the full 100 per cent General Rate was restored to veterans who received, or were eligible to receive, a Disability Pension (at any rate) for pulmonary tuberculosis before 2 November 1978 when these provisions were frozen. TB pensions granted after 1 November 1983 were assessed according to the degree of actual incapacity;
3 February 1983, Service Pension eligibility provided for Commonwealth and Allied merchant mariners during World War II subject to residency requirements;
In February 1983, the report of a study into birth defects among the children of Vietnam veterans was released. The report by the Commonwealth Institute of Health determined that Vietnam veterans were not at increased risk of fathering children with congenital abnormalities.
May 1983, the Minister announced the Royal Commission, headed by Mr Justice Evatt, into the use and effects of chemical agents on Australian personnel in Vietnam;
In the 1983 Budget, $100,000 was allocated for retrospective payment of Repatriation disability pension to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander veterans of World War 2, who had previously been paid at lower rates than other Australian veterans between 1943 and 1962;
Disability pensions for PNG veterans of World War 2 were increased from 10 November 1983 and arrangements were made to index pensions each May and November in line with the PNG CPI;
Indexation of Income limits for fringe benefits;
Uniform rate of guardians allowance introduced;
cessation of exemption of certain income from Friendly Societies;
Service Pension extended to husbands caring for their severely handicapped wives who receive service pensions as ex-servicewomen;
Repatriation Boards were no longer able to grant, vary or cancel service pensions under section 85 of the Repatriation Act. Authority remained only with the Repatriation Commission;
The separate payment of supplementary assistance was discontinued. Service pension was increased instead when a pensioner paid rent. The increase for rent was not payable where the pensioner was resident overseas. A pensioner was required to advise the Secretary if his rent was reduced or he ceased paying rent. Savings provisions in the Repatriation Acts Amendment Act 1974 and the Repatriation Acts Amendment Act 1981 continued to apply in relation to supplementary assistance;
The rate of service pension payable to a child was not adjusted to include the recent increase payable to service pensioners who pay rent. (Only children in payment in 1968, who remained eligible, continued to receive service pension);
Eligibility as members of the Forces was extended to certain civilians such as members of philanthropic organisations who served in a theatre of war. Previously they had been granted benefits on an 'act of grace' basis;
Carer pension for spouses introduced;
Additional remote area allowance payable to veterans with children; and
Agricultural loans transferred from the Department of Primary Industry to the Department of Veterans' Affairs.

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