RSL fundraising suspended over legal concerns
The RSL NSW is voluntary suspending all fundraising activities after new leadership discovered that some of the processes are illegal under the state’s charity laws.
Raffles, barbecues, cake sales and the like will all be affected by the suspension in fundraising, which is expected to cause hardship in some sub-branches around the state.
But new NSW RSL President James Brown says changes must be made urgently ahead of November’s major “Poppy Day” fundraising drive.
Mr Brown, in a directive sent to hundreds of sub-branches and other subsidiary organisations, said that "RSL NSW is treating this matter very seriously".
"It is vital that RSL NSW, and its sub-branches and auxiliaries, do everything possible to ensure that any non-compliance with these legal obligations cease immediately."
The problem reportedly stems from the fact that much of the fundraising is legally the responsibility of the state branch based at Anzac House. About half of the money raised ends up staying with sub-branches and auxiliaries, and while Anzac House has broad oversight on the way sub-branches spend their money, it can’t match the fundraising dollars.
Mr Brown said the state branch was "working on a strategy to rectify this situation urgently" and was aware of "our great responsibility to be accountable for the public money we are entrusted with".
The directive also states the suspension was not driven by a revelation of fraud or misuse of funs that have been raised by the public.
"This suspension is happening because RSL NSW had determined its technical fundraising procedures are not compliant with the required standards," the directive states.
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