RSL National President Resigns Amid ACNC Investigation

RSL National president Robert Dick has quit during a watchdog investigation into “critical governance issues” affecting the scandal-plagued charity.

An Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) statement said Dick’s resignation on 19 July put “the interests of the charity and the RSL first”.

RSL National in a statement thanked Dick for his “resilience and commitment” in “difficult times”.  

News: The President of registered charity RSL National has resigned at the charity's board meeting, held on Thursday 19 July. The ACNC and RSL National will continue to work together to implement a governance improvement Action Plan. Read more: https://t.co/3hXzK4t0ih

— ACNC (@ACNC_gov_au) July 20, 2018

RSL National had worked with the ACNC since February to “rectify serious governance failures” uncovered by a recent high-level inquiry.

KPMG conducted a review of operations and presented a detailed action plan for RSL National to improve its governance.

ACNC commissioner Gary Johns said the charities regulator would continue to work with RSL National to monitor progress.

“The [action plan] will contain a clear set of recommendations to address current, critical governance issues and the need for a broader, more strategic process of reform and improvement,” Dr Johns said.

“RSL National will soon have a clear path forward and know what steps it must take to get back on track. The ACNC will continue to work closely with the charity and monitor progress.”

The RSL was plagued by scandal in recent years, after a NSW state government inquiry revealed former NSW RSL president Don Rowe spent $465,376 on his RSL credit card between 2009 and 2014.

The report said RSL NSW, RSL Welfare and Benevolent Institution and RSL LifeCare had been “been compromised by a combination of sheer ineptitude and cronyism”.

RSL ACT president John King will serve as RSL National chair until new appointments were made.

“RSL National is committed to improving its governance and accountability, in order to fulfil our important role as the peak body of RSL in Australia,” King said.

“We will soon appoint a new chair and board members, and we will announce these appointments in due course.”