What This Instrument Does
A new legal rule, the Statement of Principles concerning electrical injury (Balance of Probabilities) (No. 71 of 2026), has been made under the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004. It sets out the official factors used to decide whether an electrical injury is linked to military service, applying the balance of probabilities test.
The instrument is issued by the Department of Veterans' Affairs.
Who It Applies To
The instrument applies specifically to current and former Australian Defence Force members in the context of assessing compensation claims for electrical injury.
Relevance to Small Business
This is not a workplace safety or small business rule. It governs how veteran compensation claims are assessed and has no direct relevance to tradies, retailers, cafe owners, or bookkeepers running ordinary small businesses.
Key Actions
- No action needed for typical small business owners - this instrument relates only to Department of Veterans' Affairs compensation claims for electrical injuries linked to military service.
- Businesses that employ veterans or deal with veteran compensation matters should note this Statement of Principles is now in force and may be relevant to claims assessment.
Status
The instrument is already in force as of 27 October 2026.
This is a plain-English summary for information only, not legal or compliance advice. Always check the official source or consult a qualified professional.