Treatment Benefits (Special Access) Act 2019 and Treatment Benefits (Special Access) (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Act 2019
The Treatment Benefits (Special Access) Act 2019 and Treatment Benefits (Special Access) (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Act 2019 received Royal Assent on 5 April 2019 and commenced on 6 April 2019.
The Acts will apply in relation to treatment provided, travel expenses incurred and payment of pharmaceutical supplement on and after 1 July 2019.
The Treatment Benefits (Special Access) Act 2019 and Treatment Benefits (Special Access) (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Act 2019 provide medical treatment to eligible members of Australian Civilian Surgical and Medical Teams (CSMTs) who worked in South Vietnam from October 1964 to December 1972 under the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization aid program.
CSMTs were engaged by the then Department of External Affairs to provide medical aid, training and treatment to local Vietnamese people in South Vietnam as part of Australia’s contribution to the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization aid program.
CSMTs included doctors, nurses, a small number of administrative and technical personnel, and other eligible CSMT members in supporting roles.
The Treatment Benefits (Special Access) Act 2019 provides medical treatment to any injury or disease through a DVA Gold Card and provides members of CSMTs with a pharmaceutical supplement and payment for travel costs related to receiving medical treatment.
The Act is similar in form and nature to the Australian Participants in British Nuclear Tests and British Commonwealth Occupation Force (Treatment) Act 2006.
The Treatment Benefits (Special Access) (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Act 2019 provides transitional and consequential provisions for the purposes of the Treatment Benefits (Special Access) Act 2019.
Treatment Benefits (Special Access) Act 2019
Further information, including the text of the Bill, Explanatory Memorandum, and Minister’s Second Reading Speech
Treatment Benefits (Special Access) (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Act 2019
Further information, including the text of the Bill, Explanatory Memorandum, and Minister’s Second Reading Speech