Love it or leave it: Millicent RSL tells Aboriginal man to leave Australia over Invasion Day T-shirts

A regional RSL has copped a spray after an admin used an official sub-branch Facebook page to post hateful comments to an Aboriginal artist selling Invasion Day T-shirts.

An regional RSL sub-branch has come under fire after an admin on its Facebook page told an Indigenous artist selling Invasion Day merchandise “if you hate it so bad you can leave”.

Arrernte man Scott Rathman, who runs Rusted Tin – Contemporary Aboriginal Arts as well as the Sugarbag creative, said the comment was “disgusting”.

Mr Rathman said the explanation he had received from the state RSL was that an “unauthorised” post had been made by an admin who thought they were posting from a personal account.

Though Mr Rathman said he had received an apology from the state RSL, he’s yet to hear any word from the Millicent RSL.

The Millicent RSL comment was removed from the original post. However, Mr Rathman posted a screenshot of the offensive comment with the caption “you have to love comments like this”.

“You say we should coexist but you insite racism we are all Australian let’s stop this racism listen to your elders if you hate it so bad you can leave. (Sic),” the comment read.

Scott Rathman posted a screenshot of the offensive comment. Picture: Supplied

The Arrernte man said members from the state RSL Branch had come to his studio “unannounced” to speak with him about the incident, but felt they were more interested in reducing the “negative impact” that could be brought down on the RSL.

“The impression I got from them through the language they were speaking was that they were more interested in trying to encourage me to remove the post,” Mr Rathman said.

“They never really said much about how they were going to deal with that person.

“They never asked me what I thought would be a good outcome.”

State RSL President Cheryl Cates issues apology in the wake of hateful comments on Invasion Day T-shirts issued from an official RSL Facebook account. Picture Supplied

Mr Ratham said he was worried about how culturally safe the Millicent RSL was for Indigenous veterans, given such racist ideology was present.

“They weren’t just Joe Blow — this person had social media access,” he said.

Celebrating Australia Day on January 26 has been hotly debated for several years with many Indigenous People feeling it offensive to celebrate the First Fleet's arrival — the start of long genocide against Aboriginal people.

Scott Rathman is an indigenous artist who works from Glanville and was basically told by a South East RSL club, that if he wants to call Australia Day Invasion Day and hates it so much he should leave. Picture Dean Martin

“I think the majority of Australians don't celebrate it with anything to do with 1778, they just see it as a public holiday and party away and get drunk,” he said.

“But we can't deny the fact that an invasion took place — they’re quite happy to celebrate the genocide of people — to me it’s rubbing our faces in it.”

The Millicent RSL refused to comment as it would be against their policy — referring the Messenger to the state office.

The state office was contacted several times for comment.