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The demand for investigations into existing and new Statements of Principles from veterans and veteransí
organisations remained constant during this year. In addition, the Repatriation Medical Authority (RMA) initiated
nine investigations of its own accord.
There were 28 investigations completed by the RMA in 2001/2002 which resulted in 27 Statements of Principles
being determined while in one investigation the RMA issued a statement that it did not intend to make a Statement
of Principles. There are 32 ongoing investigations which is the same number as last year. Outstanding investigations
have remained at a consistent level during the past three years. Investigations are complex and require a total
review of the published scientific literature. We now have Statements of Principles for 270 particular kinds of
injury and disease, which cover approximately 90% of Disability Compensation Claims handled by the Department of
Veteransí Affairs.
Following an investigation, which commenced in June 2000, the RMA decided that it does not propose to make a
Statement of Principles concerning Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS). The RMA formed the view that MCS is not
a disease as defined in Section 5D of the Veterans Entitlement Act.
In October 2001, Dr Alex Bordujenko, Principal Medical Officer from the RMA Secretariat, and the Chairperson
of the RMA, together with representatives from the Department of Veteransí Affairs and Veteransí
Review Board, visited Australian members of the UN Forces in East Timor for three days.
The visit to East Timor enabled the RMA, among other findings, to gain an increased understanding of a number
of the physical, social and psychological issues affecting defence personnel serving in the tropics on peace keeping
duties.
The RMA Members together with Professors Barry Noller and Michael Moore formed an Expert Committee, which was
appointed to examine the medical scientific evidence on the possible health effects on Australian defence force
personnel from exposure to depleted uranium in the Balkans. The Expert Committee presented their report to the
Minister for Veteransí Affairs in August 2001. The report recommended that a health study of Australian
Balkan veterans was not required in relation to the use of depleted uranium in that conflict as no risk could be
identified for Australian Forces.
Significant changes have occurred in the osteoarthritis Statements of Principles where loading weights have
been substantially reduced in line with recent sound medical-scientific evidence.
The RMA continued to be represented on the Consultative Forum for the study of health outcomes of personnel
involved in the F111 Fuel Tank Deseal/Reseal program as well as having observer status on the joint Defence /DVA
Medical Advisory Panel which deals with health issues arising from deployments.
The RMA responded to a decision of the Specialist Medical Review Council concerning hypertension and death from
hypertension by announcing its intention to carry out an investigation into hypertension.
The RMA continues to have telephone, written and face to face interaction with veterans and their representatives
to inform these groups about the functioning of the Statements of Principles system.
This page last updated 16 October 2002.
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