Advisory from Disability Compensation Branch
No 12/2000
REVOKED
In the light of legal advice provided to the Department in 2009, Advisory 12/2000, which concerned the conditions by which aircrew members of Australian Air Force Detachment Sangley Point acquired eligibility for coverage under the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986, was revoked on 4 February 2010.
On 7 October 2011, on the basis of advice from the Chief of Air Force, the Repatriation Commission conceded entry into the Vietnam operational area by aircrew members of Australian Air Force Detachment Sangley Point who served on Operation Trimdon in late May - early June 1965.
This means that only RAAF members operating out of Sangley Point who took part in sorties relating to Operation Trimdon during this period have operational and qualifying service. It is to be noted that participation in exercises staging out of Sangley Point before or after Operation Trimdon remains classified as peacetime service and is not covered by the VEA.
For more information, please see Departmental Instruction C16/2011.