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Defence & veteransStatutory authorityExists today

Repatriation Commission

8 April 1918 – present

Statutory commission responsible for repatriation benefits for veterans and their dependants, including disability and war widows' pensions, service pensions, medical treatment and, since 2026, compensation for military service, working through the Repatriation Department and, since 1976, the Department of Veterans' Affairs.

How it came into existence

Created on 8 April 1918 under the Australian Soldiers' Repatriation Act 1917, taking over from the trustees of the Australian Soldiers' Repatriation Fund; it was reconstituted as a full-time three-member commission in 1920.

Legislation: Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 and Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (originally the Australian Soldiers' Repatriation Act 1917)

Changes during its life

  1. 1920The Australian Soldiers' Repatriation Act 1920 replaced the 1917 Act and reconstituted the Commission as a full-time body of three members.
  2. 12 June 1974Moved to the new Department of Repatriation and Compensation, which replaced the Repatriation Department.
  3. 22 December 1975Moved to the new Department of Repatriation.
  4. 5 October 1976Moved to the new Department of Veterans' Affairs.
  5. 22 May 1986Continued under the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986, which replaced the Repatriation Act 1920.
  6. 1 July 2026The Veterans' Entitlements, Treatment and Support (Simplification and Harmonisation) Act 2025 took effect, closing the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 and the defence-related claims Act to new claims and making the Commission the single commission administering the improved Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act scheme.
    • Rehabilitation and compensation under the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004
    • Defence-related claims under the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988

    From 1 July 2026 the improved Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act, as amended by the VETS Act, merged the MRCC into the Repatriation Commission.

  • Took over functions from Invalid and Old-Age Pensions Office · 1920
    • War pensions

Main functions

  • Granting disability and war widows' pensions
  • Service pensions and income support for veterans
  • Medical treatment and rehabilitation for veterans
  • Support for war widows and dependants
  • Rehabilitation and compensation for military service (from 2026)

Where it sits

In the portfolio of Department of Veterans' Affairs.

Lineage

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Sources

Primary sources