Veterans' Affairs Legislation Amendment (Omnibus) Act 2017 (128 of 2017)

Schedule 3   International arrangements

Part 1   Main amendments

Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986

4   Section 203

Repeal the section, substitute:

203 International arrangements

(1) The Minister may, on behalf of the Commonwealth, enter into an arrangement with a foreign country, being an arrangement:

(a) that relates to reciprocity in veterans' affairs matters; and

(b) that makes provision for and in relation to the making of payments, or the provision of treatment or rehabilitation, to or in relation to classes of persons specified in the arrangement.

(2) Without limiting subsection (1), the arrangement may make provision for and in relation to the making of payments that are, or the provision of treatment or rehabilitation that is, comparable to payments or treatment or rehabilitation under any of the following:

(a) this Act;

(b) the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004;

(c) the Australian Participants in British Nuclear Tests and British Commonwealth Occupation Force (Treatment) Act 2006.

Provisions of arrangement have full effect

(3) The provisions of an arrangement that is in force under this section have effect despite anything in any of the Acts referred to in subsection (2).

Administration of arrangement

(4) The Commission, or the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission, may give effect to and administer an arrangement that is in force under this section.

Variation or revocation of arrangement

(5) An arrangement that is in force under this section may be varied or revoked by the Minister on behalf of the Commonwealth.

Publication of arrangement

(6) The Minister must arrange for a copy of an arrangement entered into under subsection (1), or of any variations to such an arrangement, to be published on the Department's website.

Arrangement is not a legislative instrument

(7) An arrangement entered into under subsection (1) is not a legislative instrument.