The Veterans’ Affairs Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures No. 1) Bill 2025 makes targeted amendments to existing veterans’ compensation and rehabilitation legislation to ensure a smooth transition to the simplified Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act (MRCA) from 1 July 2026.
It clarifies transitional instrument-making powers, preserves key treatment and funeral-benefit provisions, and standardises review pathways for determinations under multiple Acts.
The Bill amends the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (MRCA), the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Act 2004 (CTPA), the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 (VEA) and the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence-related Claims) Act 1988 (DRCA) to implement four technical measures required before the Veterans’ Entitlements, Treatment and Support (Simplification and Harmonisation) Act 2025 (Simplification Act) commences on 1 July 2026.
Specifically, it:
These amendments correct minor errors, harmonise overlapping provisions across four statutes and impose no additional financial burden.
These amendments uphold veterans’ right to social security and access to rehabilitation by preventing gaps in entitlement and service delivery during the transition to the new MRCA. By granting the MRCC clear transitional powers and preserving existing instruments, the Bill ensures that medical treatment, compensation and funeral benefits continue without interruption or confusion. This continuity minimises harm and maximises well-being for former Australian Defence Force personnel and their families. [Judgment]
Moreover, clarifying review pathways and validating past Board decisions protects veterans’ procedural fairness and right to an independent, impartial tribunal. Providing a single, consistent appeal route through the Veterans’ Review Board and the Administrative Review Tribunal reduces legal uncertainty, administrative costs and emotional stress for claimants. [Judgment]
Even if seamless transition is desirable, the Bill largely duplicates mechanisms already established by the Simplification Act and existing delegated legislation, adding complexity without substantive benefit. It imposes additional procedural requirements on the MRCC and other bodies for measures that could be handled by broad regulation or under the Acts Interpretation Act alone. [Judgment]
By retrofitting instruments and cross-referencing multiple statutes, the Bill risks unintended drafting errors and legal ambiguity. A more parsimonious approach—relying on existing rule-making powers and clearer commencement provisions—would achieve the same objectives while preserving parliamentary and administrative simplicity. [Judgment]
2025-10-29
Passed Both Houses
Unspecified
Veterans' Affairs
Social Support / Welfare, Discrimination / Human Rights, Healthcare