Released under the Official Information Act 1982

Released under the Official Information Act 1982

Australian Veterans’ Recognition
(Putting Veterans and Their Families
First) Act 2019

No. 96, 2019

An Act to provide for the recognition of veterans,
and for related purposes



Note: An electronic version of this Act is available on the Federal Register of Legislation
(https://www.legislation.gov.au/)

Authorised Version C2019A00096

Released under the Official Information Act 1982
Authorised Version C2019A00096

Released under the Official Information Act 1982

Contents
Part 1—Preliminary
2
1
Short title ........................................................................................... 2
2
Commencement ................................................................................. 2
3
Object of this Act............................................................................... 2
4
Definitions ......................................................................................... 2
Part 2—Recognition of veterans and their families
4
5
General recognition ........................................................................... 4
6
Australian Defence Veterans’ Covenant ............................................ 4
7
Beneficial interpretation of legislation............................................... 5
8
Cooperation ....................................................................................... 5
Part 3—Issue of pins, cards or other artefacts
6
9
Issue of pins, cards or other artefacts ................................................. 6
Part 4—Other matters
7
10
Part 2 does not create or give rise to rights or obligations ................. 7
11
Act not intended to exclude similar State or Territory laws .............. 7
Schedule 1—Australian Defence Veterans’ Covenant
8

No. 96, 2019
Australian Veterans’ Recognition (Putting Veterans and Their Families
i
First) Act 2019

Authorised Version C2019A00096

Released under the Official Information Act 1982
Authorised Version C2019A00096

Released under the Official Information Act 1982

Australian Veterans’ Recognition
(Putting Veterans and Their Families
First) Act 2019
No. 96, 2019

An Act to provide for the recognition of veterans,
and for related purposes
[Assented to 30 October 2019]
The Parliament of Australia enacts:

No. 96, 2019
Australian Veterans’ Recognition (Putting Veterans and Their Families
1
First) Act 2019

Authorised Version C2019A00096

Released under the Official Information Act 1982

Part 1  Preliminary


Section 1
Part 1—Preliminary

1  Short title

  This Act is the Australian Veterans’ Recognition (Putting Veterans
and Their Families First) Act 2019.
2  Commencement

(1)  Each provision of this Act specified in column 1 of the table
commences, or is taken to have commenced, in accordance with
column 2 of the table. Any other statement in column 2 has effect
according to its terms.

Commencement information
Column 1
Column 2
Column 3
Provisions
Commencement
Date/Details
1.  The whole of
The day after this Act receives the Royal
31 October 2019
this Act
Assent.
Note:
This table relates only to the provisions of this Act as originally
enacted. It will not be amended to deal with any later amendments of
this Act.

(2)  Any information in column 3 of the table is not part of this Act.
Information may be inserted in this column, or information in it
may be edited, in any published version of this Act.
3  Object of this Act

  The object of this Act is to acknowledge the unique nature of
military service and the sacrifice demanded of those who commit
to defend our nation.
4  Definitions

  In this Act:

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Australian Veterans’ Recognition (Putting Veterans and Their Families
No. 96, 2019
First) Act 2019

Authorised Version C2019A00096

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Preliminary  Part 1


Section 4
Permanent Forces has the same meaning as in the Defence Act
1903.
Reserves has the same meaning as in the Defence Act 1903.
veteran means a person who has served, or is serving, as a member
of the Permanent Forces or as a member of the Reserves.

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Authorised Version C2019A00096

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Part 2  Recognition of veterans and their families


Section 5
Part 2—Recognition of veterans and their families

5  General recognition

(1)  The Commonwealth acknowledges the unique nature of military
service and the sacrifice demanded of those who commit to defend
our nation.

(2)  The Commonwealth acknowledges the demands placed on, and the
sacrifices made by, the families of veterans.

(3)  The Commonwealth acknowledges that veterans may require
support mechanisms to enjoy good health, to access employment
and training opportunities, to access appropriate housing, to have
access to justice, to enjoy social wellbeing or to participate in
community engagement after the end of their military service.

(4)  The Commonwealth is committed to supporting veterans and
providing the care and support they require.

(5)  The Commonwealth acknowledges that support for veterans should
be provided in a way that respects their dignity as individuals,
enhances their self-esteem, is sensitive to any physical or mental
injury or disease they may have suffered and respects their military
service.

(6)  The Commonwealth acknowledges that veterans should be
supported to achieve greater economic wellbeing and sustainability
and greater participation in civic affairs and should have
opportunities to participate in employment and education.
6  Australian Defence Veterans’ Covenant

  The Parliament, on behalf of the people of Australia, endorses the
Australian Defence Veterans’ Covenant set out in Schedule 1.

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No. 96, 2019
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Recognition of veterans and their families  Part 2


Section 7
7  Beneficial interpretation of legislation

(1)  The Commonwealth is committed to decision-makers interpreting
a provision of the following legislation in a way that benefits
veterans, or their families, where that interpretation is consistent
with the purpose of that provision:

(a)  the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986;

(b)  the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (the
MRC Act);

(c)  the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation
(Defence-related Claims) Act 1988;

(d)  instruments under those Acts.

(2)  The Commonwealth is committed to decision-makers deciding
claims under that legislation:

(a)  in a manner that is fair, just and consistent; and

(b)  except under the MRC Act—within a time that is
proportionate to the complexity of the matter; and

(c)  in a manner that promotes public trust and confidence; and

(d)  on the basis of only requiring evidence sufficient to meet the
relevant standard of proof for the claims.

(3)  The Commonwealth is committed to the Military Rehabilitation
and Compensation Commission deciding a claim under the MRC
Act within 90 days beginning on:

(a)  the day the Commission receives the claim; or

(b)  the day the Commission receives information, or a document,
that the Commission requested in relation to the claim under
section 330 of that Act;
whichever occurs later.
8  Cooperation

  The Commonwealth is committed to working cooperatively with
veterans, their families and ex-service organisations to address
issues facing veterans.

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Part 3  Issue of pins, cards or other artefacts


Section 9
Part 3—Issue of pins, cards or other artefacts

9  Issue of pins, cards or other artefacts

(1)  The Commonwealth may issue pins, cards or other artefacts to
veterans in recognition of the military service of veterans.

(2)  The Commonwealth may issue pins, cards or other artefacts to
family members of veterans in recognition of:

(a)  the military service of veterans; or

(b)  the demands placed on, and the sacrifices made by, the
families of veterans.

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No. 96, 2019
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Other matters  Part 4


Section 10
Part 4—Other matters

10  Part 2 does not create or give rise to rights or obligations

(1)  Part 2 does not, by its terms or operation, create or give rise to any
rights (whether substantive or procedural), or obligations, that are
legally enforceable in judicial or other proceedings.

(2)  A failure to comply with Part 2 does not affect the validity of any
decision, and is not a ground for the review or challenge of any
decision.

(3)  No action, suit or proceeding is to be instituted in reliance on the
terms of Part 2 or the operation of that Part.
11  Act not intended to exclude similar State or Territory laws

  This Act is not intended to apply to the exclusion of any law of a
State or Territory that provides for the recognition of veterans or
their families.

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Authorised Version C2019A00096

Released under the Official Information Act 1982
Schedule 1  Australian Defence Veterans’ Covenant



Schedule 1—Australian Defence Veterans’
Covenant
Note:
See section 6.


8  Australian Veterans’ Recognition (Putting Veterans and Their Families
No. 96, 2019
First) Act 2019

Authorised Version C2019A00096

Released under the Official Information Act 1982

[Minister’s second reading speech made in—
Senate on 4 July 2019
House of Representatives on 21 October 2019]

(89/19)

No. 96, 2019
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First) Act 2019

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Document Outline

OIA-2026-5715-Enclosure-2a.pdf