Specialist Medical Review Council

Declaration

Section 196W
Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986

Re: Statements of Principles Nos. 53 and 54 of 2013

concerning fibrosing interstitial lung disease and

Statements of Principles Nos. 55 and 56 of 2013

concerning asbestosis

Request for Review Declaration Nos. 27 and 28

1. In relation to the Repatriation Medical Authority (the RMA) Statement of Principles No. 53 of 2013 concerning fibrosing interstitial lung disease and death from fibrosing interstitial lung disease, made under subsections 196B (2) of the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 (the VEA), the Specialist Medical Review Council (the Council) under subsection 196W of the VEA:

DECLARES that the sound medical-scientific evidence available to the RMA is insufficient to justify an amendment to the Statement of Principles to existing factors, or to include a new factor or factors for;

asbestos bodies and pleural plaque; or

shorter periods of exposure to respirable asbestos fibres.

2.                  In relation to the RMA Statement of Principles No. 54 of 2013 concerning fibrosing interstitial lung disease and death from fibrosing interstitial lung disease, made under subsections 196B (3) of the VEA, the Council under subsection 196W of the VEA:

DECLARES that the sound medical-scientific evidence available to the RMA is insufficient to justify an amendment to the Statement of Principles to existing factors, or to include a new factor or factors for;

asbestos bodies and pleural plaque; or

shorter periods of exposure to respirable asbestos fibres.

3.                  In relation to the RMA Statement of Principles No. 55 of 2013 concerning asbestosis and death from asbestosis, made under subsections 196B (2) of the VEA, the Council under subsection 196W of the VEA:

DECLARES that the sound medical-scientific evidence available to the RMA is insufficient to justify an amendment to the Statement of Principles to existing factors, or to include a new factor or factors for;

asbestos bodies and pleural plaque; or

shorter periods of exposure to respirable asbestos fibres.

4.                  In relation to the RMA Statement of Principles No. 56 of 2013 concerning asbestosis and death from asbestosis, made under subsections 196B (3) of the VEA, the Council under subsection 196W of the VEA:

DECLARES that the sound medical-scientific evidence available to the RMA is insufficient to justify an amendment to the Statement of Principles to existing factors, or to include a new factor or factors for;

asbestos bodies and pleural plaque; or

shorter periods of exposure to respirable asbestos fibres.

5.                  In relation to the RMA Statements of Principles Nos. 53 and 54 of 2013 concerning fibrosing interstitial lung disease and death from fibrosing interstitial lung disease, and Nos. 55 and 56 of 2013 concerning asbestosis and death from asbestosis, made under subsections 196B (2) and 196B (3) of the VEA, the Council under subsection 196W of the VEA:

RECOMMENDS that the RMA, when it carries out any future investigation(s), considers whether there is relevant sound medical-scientific evidence concerning any direct measurements of asbestos fibre levels during tasks relevant to Australian Naval personnel or derived from the international literature, or alternative measures of exposure to asbestos and the required level of exposure used in the existing factors, for “inhaling respirable asbestos fibres in an enclosed space/open environment” (clinical onset) and, for “inhaling respirable asbestos fibres” (clinical worsening) in the Statements of Principles.