Section 119 — Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986: Commission not bound by technicalities

(1) In considering, hearing or determining, and in making a decision in relation to: (a) a claim or application or the grant of a veteran payment; (b) a review, under Division 16 of Part IIIB, of a decision of the Commission with respect to a pension, a veteran payment or qualifying service; (ba) a review, under Division 16 of Part IIIB, of a decision of the Commission under Part IIIAB (pension bonus and pension bonus bereavement payment); or (c) a reconsideration, under section 31, of a decision of the Commission with respect to a pension under Part II or IV or an attendant allowance under section 98; (da) a review, under Division 7 of Part IVA, of a decision of the Commission with respect to an advance payment of an amount of pension; (e) the suspension, cancellation or variation of a pension or a veteran payment; or (ee) a review, under subsection 115(1), of a decision of the Commission in respect of an application for an allowance, payment or benefit specified in that subsection; the Commission: (f) is not bound to act in a formal manner and is not bound by any rules of evidence, but may inform itself on any matter in such manner as it thinks just; (g) shall act according to substantial justice and the substantial merits of the case, without regard to legal form and technicalities; and (h) without limiting the generality of the foregoing, shall take into account any difficulties that, for any reason, lie in the way of ascertaining the existence of any fact, matter, cause or circumstance, including any reason attributable to: (i) the effects of the passage of time, including the effect of the passage of time on the availability of witnesses; and (ii) the absence of, or a deficiency in, relevant official records, including an absence or deficiency resulting from the fact that an occurrence that happened during the service of a veteran, or of a member of the Defence Force or of a Peacekeeping Force, as defined by subsection 68(1), was not reported to the appropriate authorities. (2) In subsection (1): application means: (a) an application to increase the rate of: (i) a pension granted under Part II or IV; or (ii) a service pension granted under Part III; or (iii) income support supplement granted under Part IIIA; or (b) an application for a pension under Part II or IV made in accordance with subsection 15(2); or (c) an application to be provided with treatment under Part V; or (d) an application for an allowance, payment or benefit specified in subsection 111(1); or (e) an application under Part IIIAB for registration as a member of the pension bonus scheme. claim means: (a) a claim for a pension under Part II or IV; or (b) a claim for service pension or other benefit under Part III; or (c) a claim for a qualifying service determination under Part III; or (d) a claim for income support supplement under Part IIIA; or (e) a claim for a pension bonus or pension bonus bereavement payment under Part IIIAB; or (f) a claim for prisoner of war recognition supplement under Part VIB.