Introduction
1.1
Labor senators continue to hold concerns regarding the bill. The main
intention of the bill appears to be to change current arrangements for
veterans' compensation and rehabilitation to enable future reform to occur.
However, the shape of this reform has not been explained. The scope of
potential change to veterans' entitlements is highlighted by proposed new
section 121B which will give the Minister the capacity to change the DRCA
through regulation. The consultation practices undertaken by DVA in relation to
the bill do not indicate that the views of veterans, ex-service organisations
and others will be adequately taken into account when major legislative reforms
to this area are considered.
Lacking detail
1.2
It is not clear the extent to which the creation of the DRCA will change
the consideration of claims for veterans over time. In particular, excluding
the influence of decisions made under SRCA in the future and the assessment
guides prepared by Comcare for claims could potentially disadvantage veterans.
From the evidence received, it did not appear that DVA had conducted an
assessment of this specific issue. DVA officers appeared to indicate that, at
the present time, no reform options are being excluded.[1]
No assurance has been provided that reforms to align the DRCA and the MCRA will
not produce worse outcomes for veterans. Labor senators urge the Minister to
clarify the detail of proposed reforms to provide certainty to ADF members and
veterans.
Proposed new section 121B
1.3
The regulations made under proposed new section 121B will be
disallowable legislative instruments and considered by the Senate Regulations
and Ordinances Committee. Nonetheless, long-standing concerns regarding the overuse
of Henry VIII clauses are still relevant. Future changes to the DRCA through
this process will be subject to less parliamentary oversight and fewer checks
and balances. In particular, the process and the criteria the Minister will use
to be 'satisfied' that it is 'necessary or desirable' the operation of the DRCA
be modified are unclear.
1.4
While the Senate Scrutiny of Bills Committee (Scrutiny Committee) did
not comment on the bill, it has recently raised issues with a similar remedial
power provision granted to the Tax Commissioner which was enacted in the Tax
and Superannuation Laws Amendment (2016 Measures No. 2) Act 2017. This
provision allows the Tax Commissioner, by legislative instrument, to modify the
operation of a taxation law provided he/she has met certain conditions.
1.5
The Scrutiny Committee raised several concerns including the delegation
of legislative power, consultation requirements, retrospective application and
a discretionary review of the new power. Despite receiving responses from the relevant
Minister, the Scrutiny Committee remained concerned about these matters.[2]
Labor senators consider that many of these issues also apply in relation to proposed
new section 121B and do not appear to be addressed in the explanatory
memorandum. In particular, there is no scheduled review of the new power
granted to the Minister mandated in the bill to assess whether it is
functioning as intended.
1.6
While section 17 of the Legislation Act 2003 provides that
rule-makers 'should consult' before making legislative instruments, the form
and scope of this consultation is largely at their discretion. Failure to
consult does not affect validity or enforceability of a legislative instrument.
To address this, Labor senators consider that proposed new section 121B should
be amended to insert an obligation on the Minister to consult with ex-service
organisations and the veteran community before the power granted in section is
used. This amendment could be expressed as follows:
121B Regulations modifying the
operation of this Act
- The regulations may modify the
operation of this Act.
- Before the Governor-General
makes regulations under subsection 1:
- the Minister must be satisfied
that it is necessary or desirable to make the regulations to ensure that no
person (except the Commonwealth) is disadvantaged by the enactment of this Act;
and
- the Minister must conduct
appropriate consultation with relevant ex-service organisations and the veteran
community, including the public release of the full text of proposed
regulations.
Consultation
1.7
Labor senators welcome the committee's recommendation that DVA review
its consultation and engagement practices. It is concerning that it appears
that the first opportunity that ex-service organisations had to view the actual
text of the bill was on the same day it was introduced into the Parliament.
Given the complexity of the legislative schemes involved and the limited
resources of ex-service organisations to undertake legislative analysis, it
would have been more appropriate for an exposure draft of the proposed
legislation to be made available for a period of public consultation. In the
future, Labor senators urge the Minister to use the release of exposure drafts
of proposed legislation to enable informed consultation to occur.
Recommendation 1
1.8
Labor senators recommend the Senate amend proposed new section 121B to
include an obligation on the Minister for Veterans' Affairs to conduct
consultation with ex-service organisations and the veteran community before
regulations modifying the operation of the Act are made.
Senator Alex
Gallacher Senator Claire
Moore
Deputy Chair
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