Australian Government, Department of Veterans' Affairs
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The Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission

The Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission (MRCC) is established under the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (MRCA). The MRCA provides for compensation and other benefits to be provided for current and former members of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) who suffer an injury or disease due to service on or after 1 July 2004, and for the dependants of members whose deaths were the result of an injury or disease due to service on or after 1 July 2004.

The functions of the MRCC under the MRCA include:

  • making determinations relating to the acceptance of liability for service related conditions, the payment of compensation and the provision of treatment and rehabilitation;
  • minimising the duration and severity of service related conditions and promoting the return to suitable work;
  • promoting research into the health of members and former members, the prevention of injury and disease and rehabilitation;
  • providing advice to the Ministers and departmental Secretaries of Veterans’ Affairs and Defence, the Chief of the Defence Force and the Service Chiefs, either on request or on its own initiative; and
  • other functions that may be conferred on it.

The Military Rehabilitation and Compensation (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Act 2004 gives the MRCC functions and powers to determine and manage claims that relate to defence service under the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988 (SRCA).
The MRCC has five members:

  • the President and Deputy President of the Repatriation Commission;
  • another member of the Repatriation Commission nominated by the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs;
  • a person nominated by the Minister responsible for the SRCA; and
  • a person nominated by the Minister for Defence.

Current members of the MRCC are:

  • Mr Ed Killesteyn PSM, Deputy President of the Repatriation Commission;
  • Brigadier W Rolfe AO (Rtd), Repatriation Commissioner
  • nominated SRCA member to be advised; and
  • Major General Michael David Slater DSC AM CSC, Head Personnel Executive, Department of Defence