COMMISSION APPOINTED TO RUN NEW MRCS

The Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Danna Vale, today announced the membership of the new Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission (MRCC).

Mrs Vale said the new Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Scheme (MRCS) is the most significant development in Australian repatriation since the passage of the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986.

"The inaugural members of the Commission will play a vital role in establishing the new MRCS within the repatriation system, to meet the needs of service personnel and their families in the 21st century,” Mrs Vale said.

"The MRCC will be responsible for administering the new MRCS, which begins on 1 July 2004."

Mrs Vale said she was pleased to announce the following distinguished founding members of the Commission:

• Dr Neil Johnston, President of the Repatriation Commission and Secretary of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, will chair the new Commission,
• Mr Ian Campbell, Deputy President of the Repatriation Commission,
• Rear Admiral Simon Harrington (Retd), Repatriation Commissioner,
• Ms Barbara Bennett, Group Manager of Workplace Relations Implementation at the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, and
• Rear Admiral Brian Adams, Head of the Defence Personnel Executive.