{"id":"C2019A00096","name":"Australian Veterans’ Recognition (Putting Veterans and Their Families First) Act 2019","slug":"australian-veterans-recognition-putting-veterans-and-their-families-first-act-2019","collection":"act","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":"96 of 2019","makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":436314,"registerId":"C2019A00096-fast-fetch-1775953550622","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-12","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Australian Veterans’ Recognition (Putting Veterans and Their Families First) Act 2019","content":"---\nmeta-content-style-type: text/css\nmeta-content-type: application/xhtml+xml; charset=utf-8\n---\n\n?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"utf-8\" standalone=\"no\"?>\n\n![Commonwealth Coat of Arms of Australia](image.001.png)\n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\nAustralian Veterans’ Recognition (Putting Veterans and Their Families First) Act 2019\n\n \n\nNo. 96, 2019\n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\nAn Act to provide for the recognition of veterans, and for related purposes\n\n \n\n \n\n \n\nContents\n\nPart 1—Preliminary\n\n1 Short title\n\n2 Commencement\n\n3 Object of this Act\n\n4 Definitions\n\nPart 2—Recognition of veterans and their families\n\n5 General recognition\n\n6 Australian Defence Veterans’ Covenant\n\n7 Beneficial interpretation of legislation\n\n8 Cooperation\n\nPart 3—Issue of pins, cards or other artefacts\n\n9 Issue of pins, cards or other artefacts\n\nPart 4—Other matters\n\n10 Part 2 does not create or give rise to rights or obligations\n\n11 Act not intended to exclude similar State or Territory laws\n\nSchedule 1—Australian Defence Veterans’ Covenant\n\n \n\n![Commonwealth Coat of Arms of Australia](image.001.png)\n\n \n\n \n\nAustralian Veterans’ Recognition (Putting Veterans and Their Families First) Act 2019\n\nNo. 96, 2019\n\n \n\n \n\n \n\nAn Act to provide for the recognition of veterans, and for related purposes\n\n[Assented to 30 October 2019]\n\nThe Parliament of Australia enacts:\n\nPart 1—Preliminary\n\n \n\n1  Short title\n\n  This Act is the Australian Veterans’ Recognition (Putting Veterans and Their Families First) Act 2019.\n\n2  Commencement\n\n (1) Each provision of this Act specified in column 1 of the table commences, or is taken to have commenced, in accordance with column 2 of the table. Any other statement in column 2 has effect according to its terms.\n\n \n\n- Commencement information\n- Column 1 Column 2 Column 3\n- Provisions Commencement Date/Details\n- 1. The whole of this Act The day after this Act receives the Royal Assent. 31 October 2019\n\n\nNote: This table relates only to the provisions of this Act as originally enacted. It will not be amended to deal with any later amendments of this Act.\n\n (2) Any information in column 3 of the table is not part of this Act. Information may be inserted in this column, or information in it may be edited, in any published version of this Act.\n\n3  Object of this Act\n\n  The object of this Act is to acknowledge the unique nature of military service and the sacrifice demanded of those who commit to defend our nation.\n\n4  Definitions\n\n  In this Act:\n\nPermanent Forces has the same meaning as in the Defence Act 1903.\n\nReserves has the same meaning as in the Defence Act 1903.\n\nveteran means a person who has served, or is serving, as a member of the Permanent Forces or as a member of the Reserves.\n\nPart 2—Recognition of veterans and their families\n\n \n\n5  General recognition\n\n (1) The Commonwealth acknowledges the unique nature of military service and the sacrifice demanded of those who commit to defend our nation.\n\n (2) The Commonwealth acknowledges the demands placed on, and the sacrifices made by, the families of veterans.\n\n (3) The Commonwealth acknowledges that veterans may require support mechanisms to enjoy good health, to access employment and training opportunities, to access appropriate housing, to have access to justice, to enjoy social wellbeing or to participate in community engagement after the end of their military service.\n\n (4) The Commonwealth is committed to supporting veterans and providing the care and support they require.\n\n (5) The Commonwealth acknowledges that support for veterans should be provided in a way that respects their dignity as individuals, enhances their self‑esteem, is sensitive to any physical or mental injury or disease they may have suffered and respects their military service.\n\n (6) The Commonwealth acknowledges that veterans should be supported to achieve greater economic wellbeing and sustainability and greater participation in civic affairs and should have opportunities to participate in employment and education.\n\n6  Australian Defence Veterans’ Covenant\n\n  The Parliament, on behalf of the people of Australia, endorses the Australian Defence Veterans’ Covenant set out in Schedule 1.\n\n7  Beneficial interpretation of legislation\n\n (1) The Commonwealth is committed to decision‑makers interpreting a provision of the following legislation in a way that benefits veterans, or their families, where that interpretation is consistent with the purpose of that provision:\n\n (a) the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986;\n\n (b) the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (the MRC Act);\n\n (c) the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence‑related Claims) Act 1988;\n\n (d) instruments under those Acts.\n\n (2) The Commonwealth is committed to decision‑makers deciding claims under that legislation:\n\n (a) in a manner that is fair, just and consistent; and\n\n (b) except under the MRC Act—within a time that is proportionate to the complexity of the matter; and\n\n (c) in a manner that promotes public trust and confidence; and\n\n (d) on the basis of only requiring evidence sufficient to meet the relevant standard of proof for the claims.\n\n (3) The Commonwealth is committed to the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission deciding a claim under the MRC Act within 90 days beginning on:\n\n (a) the day the Commission receives the claim; or\n\n (b) the day the Commission receives information, or a document, that the Commission requested in relation to the claim under section 330 of that Act;\n\nwhichever occurs later.\n\n8  Cooperation\n\n  The Commonwealth is committed to working cooperatively with veterans, their families and ex‑service organisations to address issues facing veterans.\n\nPart 3—Issue of pins, cards or other artefacts\n\n \n\n9  Issue of pins, cards or other artefacts\n\n (1) The Commonwealth may issue pins, cards or other artefacts to veterans in recognition of the military service of veterans.\n\n (2) The Commonwealth may issue pins, cards or other artefacts to family members of veterans in recognition of:\n\n (a) the military service of veterans; or\n\n (b) the demands placed on, and the sacrifices made by, the families of veterans.\n\nPart 4—Other matters\n\n \n\n10  Part 2 does not create or give rise to rights or obligations\n\n (1) Part 2 does not, by its terms or operation, create or give rise to any rights (whether substantive or procedural), or obligations, that are legally enforceable in judicial or other proceedings.\n\n (2) A failure to comply with Part 2 does not affect the validity of any decision, and is not a ground for the review or challenge of any decision.\n\n (3) No action, suit or proceeding is to be instituted in reliance on the terms of Part 2 or the operation of that Part.\n\n11  Act not intended to exclude similar State or Territory laws\n\n  This Act is not intended to apply to the exclusion of any law of a State or Territory that provides for the recognition of veterans or their families.\n\nSchedule 1—Australian Defence Veterans’ Covenant\n\nNote: See section 6.\n\n  \n\n![](image.002.jpeg)\n\n \n\n[Minister’s second reading speech made in—\n\nSenate on 4 July 2019\n\nHouse of Representatives on 21 October 2019]\n\n(89/19)\n\n \n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The legislation remains tightly focused on its original purpose of symbolic recognition and interpretive guidance. It has not expanded beyond its initial scope of acknowledging veterans, establishing the Covenant, and guiding administrative decision-making. The Act deliberately avoids creating substantive rights, keeping it narrow and declaratory."},"complexity_factors":["Very short statute — only 11 sections plus a Schedule containing a single-page Covenant","Minimal defined terms — only 3 definitions in section 4 (Permanent Forces, Reserves, veteran), all referencing the Defence Act 1903","No nested exceptions or complex conditional logic","Simple structure with clear Part divisions (Preliminary, Recognition, Issue of artefacts, Other matters)","Straightforward declaratory language — mostly statements of acknowledgment and commitment rather than operative legal rules","Single cross-reference to other legislation (Defence Act 1903 for definitions)","Explicit limitation clause (section 10) clearly negating legal enforceability — unusual in its clarity rather than complexity"],"plain_english_summary":"This law is about formally recognising Australian veterans and their families for their service and sacrifice. It does three main things:\n\n**1. It makes formal statements of recognition**\n- The Commonwealth officially acknowledges that military service is unique and demanding, and that veterans' families also make sacrifices\n- It commits to supporting veterans with health care, employment, housing, and community participation\n- It promises to treat veterans with dignity and respect\n\n**2. It establishes the Australian Defence Veterans' Covenant**\n- This is a formal pledge (set out in Schedule 1) that Parliament makes on behalf of all Australians to recognise veterans\n- The Covenant itself is largely symbolic — a statement of national gratitude rather than a contract\n\n**3. It guides how other veterans' laws should be interpreted**\n- Decision-makers dealing with veterans' benefits and compensation must interpret laws in ways that favour veterans and their families where possible\n- Claims must be handled fairly, justly, and within reasonable timeframes (90 days for claims under the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act)\n\n**Important limitations:**\n- **This law does NOT create legal rights.** Veterans cannot sue in court if the government doesn't follow through on these acknowledgments (section 10)\n- It allows the government to issue pins, cards, or other recognition items to veterans and their families, but doesn't require it\n- It works alongside — not instead of — any state or territory veterans' recognition laws\n\n**Who it affects:** Current and former members of the Australian Defence Force (Permanent Forces and Reserves), plus their families. It also affects government decision-makers who handle veterans' claims."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This Act remains narrowly focused on formal recognition and directional commitments for decision‑makers rather than creating new entitlements or statutory obligations. It endorses a Covenant, asks for beneficial interpretation of specified veteran laws, sets a target for MRC Commission timeframes, and authorises symbolic recognition (pins/cards). Section 10 explicitly prevents Part 2 from creating enforceable rights, so the Act does not expand the legal scope of veterans’ entitlements beyond existing statutes named in section 7. In short, the enacted text aligns with a limited recognition‑and‑guidance purpose rather than a broadened entitlement or regulatory scope."},"complexity_factors":["Short Act: 11 sections plus one Schedule (concise structure)","Very few defined terms in the Act itself (Permanent Forces, Reserves, veteran) (section 4)","Cross‑references to three external, substantive Acts (Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986; Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004; Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence‑related Claims) Act 1988) (section 7)","Contains a mix of declaratory commitments and one concrete procedural target (90‑day decision timeframe for the MRC Commission) (section 7(3))","Explicit non‑justiciability clause that limits legal effect and creates an interpretive wrinkle for administrators and courts (section 10)","Discretionary power to issue artefacts with no detailed administrative framework (section 9)","Schedule 1 (the Covenant) is endorsed but operates as an aspirational/expressive instrument rather than a codeset of enforceable rules (section 6)"],"plain_english_summary":"This Act records Parliament’s recognition of veterans’ service, formally endorses the Australian Defence Veterans’ Covenant, and asks Commonwealth decision‑makers to interpret specified veterans’ laws in ways that benefit veterans and families where consistent with statutory purpose. It sets expectations (including a 90‑day MRC Commission target), allows issuance of recognition artefacts, and commits to cooperation with ex‑service organisations — but is expressly non‑justiciable and creates no new enforceable entitlements or payments."},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/australian-veterans-recognition-putting-veterans-and-their-families-first-act-2019","history":"/api/acts/australian-veterans-recognition-putting-veterans-and-their-families-first-act-2019/history","analysis":"/api/acts/australian-veterans-recognition-putting-veterans-and-their-families-first-act-2019/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/australian-veterans-recognition-putting-veterans-and-their-families-first-act-2019/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/australian-veterans-recognition-putting-veterans-and-their-families-first-act-2019/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/australian-veterans-recognition-putting-veterans-and-their-families-first-act-2019/documents"}}