Veterans' Support Amendment Act 2019

Coat of Arms of New Zealand

Veterans’ Support Amendment Act 2019

Public Act
 
2019 No 31
Date of assent
 
24 June 2019
Commencement
 
see section 2

The Parliament of New Zealand enacts as follows:

1 Title

This Act is the Veterans’ Support Amendment Act 2019.

2 Commencement

This Act comes into force on the day after the date on which it receives the Royal assent.

3 Principal Act

This Act amends the Veterans’ Support Act 2014 (the principal Act).

4 Section 9 amended (Declarations that deployments are operational service)

After section 9(5), insert:

(5A)

The power under subsection (3) includes the power to make a declaration in respect of a deployment that has ceased, whether the deployment began before or after the commencement of this Act.

(5B)

In relation to any declaration referred to in subsection (5A),—

(a)

the reports referred to in subsections (1) and (2) may be provided at any time; and

(b)

subsection (3) applies with any necessary modifications; and

(c)

subsections (4) and (5) do not apply.

(5C)

The Minister may, by notice in the Gazette, extend the period specified under subsection (3)(c) in a declaration referred to in subsection (5A) if the Minister is satisfied that the deployment continued to pose a significant risk of harm to members of the deployed force after the expiry of the period.

(5D)

Subsection (5E) applies in respect of a declaration (a replacement declaration) that—

(a)

is in respect of a deployment that has ceased; and

(b)

the Minister is satisfied replaces another declaration under this section or a decision under section 70A or 80A of the War Pensions Act 1954 (the earlier declaration or decision).

(5E)

Before making a replacement declaration, the Minister must be satisfied that support to which any particular person would, at any time (whenever arising), have been entitled under the Act as a result of the earlier declaration or decision will not be reduced as a result of the making of the replacement declaration.

5 Validation of declarations made in respect of certain deployments

No declaration made under section 9(3) of the principal Act before the commencement of this section is invalid only because 1 or more of the following applies to it:

(a)

it is in respect of a deployment that began before the commencement of the principal Act:

(b)

it is in respect of a deployment that had, when the declaration was made, ceased:

(c)

a report referred to in section 9(1) or (2) was provided to the Minister in relation to the declaration after the deployment had ceased.

Legislative history

23 May 2019

Introduction (Bill 139–1)

29 May 2019

First reading and referral to Social Services and Community Committee

12 June 2019

Reported from Social Services and Community Committee

19 June 2019

Second reading, third reading

24 June 2019

Royal assent

This Act is administered by the New Zealand Defence Force.