DATE OF ISSUE: 07 June 1991
NEW VETERANS' ENTITLEMENTS REGULATION 6A PRESCRIBING THE BRITISH EMPIRE MEDAL AS AN ELIGIBLE DECORATION FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE DECORATION ALLOWANCE, SECTION 102 OF THE VEA.
Introduction.
The purpose of this instruction is to advise of new Regulation 6A of the Veterans' Entitlements Regulations which prescribes the British Empire Medal (BEM) as an eligible decoration for the purposes of the decoration allowance.
Decoration allowance.
Section 102 of the Veterans' Entitlements Act provides for the grant of a fortnightly allowance in specified circumstances to a veteran who has been awarded an eligible decoration for gallantry during a war to which the Act applies or during warlike operations.
New Regulation.
A recent application for decoration allowance highlighted a case of the BEM being awarded for gallantry arising from action in war or warlike operations as a result new Regulation 6A was proposed.
On 27 February the Governor-General approved new Regulation 6A of the Veterans' Entitlements Regulations to prescribe the BEM as an eligible decoration for the purposes of decoration allowance.
This new Regulation was gazetted on 6 March 1991 and takes effect from this date.
The new Regulation 6A will be incorporated in the next unofficial reprint of the Veterans' Affairs legislation which is expected to be available in July or August this year.
PETER HAWKER
NATIONAL PROGRAM DIRECTOR
BENEFITS