Yes, we have an appeal system as well. In broad terms, after a decision is made, there is what we call the primary level, the first level within the department. A person who is unhappy with that decision can request a review of that decision. The first step is another internal DVA review by an officer at a more senior level than the primary decision-maker. That is what we would call a reconsideration or review of the initial decision.
Then if an applicant is still not happy with the outcome, they can appeal to the Veterans' Review Board, an independent statutory body that examines appeals. If they are not happy with the Veterans' Review Board decision, they have a right to appeal to what is called the administrative appeals tribunal. And then from there, if they're still not happy, they have no right of review on the merits of a case, but on a legal point of view they can go to the federal court if the matter revolves around a legal issue.
There is a legal aid system in Australia. There's a veterans' legal aid program, not administered by DVA, but administered by the Attorney-General's Department, which provides some legal aid assistance for certain veterans to take their appeals to the administrative appeals tribunal. We don't provide legal aid at the Veterans' Review Board; they don't have lawyers at the Veterans' Review Board.