Charities

RSL NSW not ready to resume fundraising activities

AAP October 26, 2017

2 min read

RSL NSW will not charge for red poppies this Remembrance Day as an inquiry into its charitable fundraising is heard.

RSL’s state president James Brown told AAP the organisation was not ready to resume fundraising activities because it was still not meeting the law.

The organisation suspended fundraising earlier this year before the inquiry set up by the NSW government, which has since heard evidence on how publicly fundraised money was misspent.

Brown said 130,000 poppies had been distributed by head office to sub-branches and would be given out free during November 11 commemorations.

“We can’t accept any public money this year,” Brown told AAP on Wednesday.

“Please don’t give us any money. We literally can’t accept a cent – we will be breaking the law if we do.”

He said the organisation had been fundraising in the same way since 1923 in a way that had not kept up with the law, resulting in all fundraising activity being suspended.

“We aim to be back fundraising next year, possibly by Anzac day.”

Brown, the son-in-law of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, told the inquiry on Tuesday the traditional sale of poppies at Remembrance Day services would not happen.

He also said changes had already been made to the organisation, including stripping credit cards from state councillors and asking two to resign.

These changes were made on top of a move last week to expel RSL NSW former president Don Rowe and cancel his life membership.

It follows Rowe’s admissions at a public inquiry a month ago to using the charity’s cash to pay for his mortgage, family phone bills, flights, meals and accommodation at a Sydney hotel during his 11 years as president.

The inquiry, led by Patricia Bergin SC in Sydney, will reconvene for final hearings on November 9 before reporting back in February.