Veterans deserve to benefit
WHEN Australia’s repatriation department was established after World War I, a fundamental principle in determining any benefits claim was when in doubt, the veteran should be given the benefit of that doubt.
In Townsville there is little doubt the anti- malarial drugs mefloquine, tafenoquine and primaquine can have long- term adverse health consequences for some individuals who have taken them.
That is why the Repatriation Medical Authority’s decision to categorically rule out a link between anti- malarial drugs and brain injury in ADF members appears to be, at best, a premature one. At worst, it is a decision that may well come back to haunt the RMA in the same manner as the Agent Orange scandal in the decades following Vietnam. Both mefloquine and tafenoquine were trialled on Townsville- based personnel deployed to East Timor and Bougainville at the turn of the century.
Aware of concerns among participants about the probity of those trials and of adverse outcomes for some participants, the Townsville Bulletin has consistently supported affected veterans and their families.
Veterans attempting transition back into civilian life face a range of challenges.
Having to fight for recognition for what they believe are service- related health issues should not be one for them.
It appears that, once again, the RMA has a taken a legalistic approach to a deeply human problem. But even that legalistic interpretation may be accepted in the future to be flawed. Indeed, the question must be asked how the RMA could come to this conclusion when other nations, including Germany, Canada, the US and the UK, retain doubts. Germany has even gone so far as banning mefloquine’s use.
Bad decisions cost lives. The defence community, and Townsville in particular, does not need any more lost lives.
The Townsville Bulletin continues to support veterans and their families through our Rescue Mission campaign. The latest challenge they face is this RMA decision, which appears to be founded on the assertion that there is too much doubt to accept a link. If they entertain such doubts, we simply invite them to travel to Townsville to see for themselves.