
Royal Commission
- agentorangechild
- May 22
- 1 min read
Royal Commission Findings: Agent Orange & Australian Vietnam Veterans
1. Recognition of Certain Cancers:
The Commission acknowledged that exposure to herbicides like Agent Orange could be linked to specific cancers, notably soft tissue sarcoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. These findings supported the acceptance of such conditions for compensation under veterans’ law. 
2. Benefit of the Doubt Principle:
The Commission emphasized that, under veterans’ legislation, when there is uncertainty, the benefit of the doubt should favor the veteran. This principle was highlighted in cases where scientific evidence was inconclusive but suggested potential links between chemical exposure and health issues.
3. Criticism of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA):
The Commission criticized the DVA for not adequately applying the benefit of the doubt principle and for being dismissive of veterans’ claims related to chemical exposure. It highlighted a need for the DVA to reassess its approach to such claims.
4. Controversy Over Report Content:
Post-release, the Commission’s report faced scrutiny for allegedly incorporating extensive sections from Monsanto’s submissions without proper attribution. This raised concerns about the objectivity of the findings and led to debates about the influence of chemical manufacturers on the Commission’s conclusions. 
Comments