Generational division in Darwin RSL forces NT President to issue 90 day suspension

The Darwin RSL’s charter has been removed for 90 days, with hopes a ‘free and fair’ election will resolve internal conflicts which have bought the club to a standstill.

The Darwin RSL has had its charter suspended for 90 days after dysfunction within the ranks forced the state branch to intervene.

Coming into effect on Wednesday, the ban could be lifted sooner if a “free and fair” election is held to establish a new committee, NT President Dave Petersen confirmed.

Mr Petersen said the priority was to avoid further damage to the sub-branch and he had “no doubt” it would return to “doing great things” for local veterans under new leadership.

Last week Mr Petersen said a series of misunderstandings, and generation differences in how club money should be spent had led to the Darwin RSL being unable to self-govern.

He said threats to sue for defamation and other legal action had been made as tensions boiled over.

Mr Petersen said Top End veterans expected an RSL that worked to support them and their families.

“It’s not right that we have money and assets sitting idle when there are vets in Darwin tonight who are homeless, for example,” he said.

“The history of Darwin is it’s a military town … to not have a functioning RSL does not pass the pub test.”

Nov 29: Generational division in Darwin RSL forces NT President to intervene

Dysfunction within the ranks of Darwin’s RSL has forced the state branch to step in and threaten to remove the club’s charter.

President of the NT/SA Branch Dave Petersen said the sub-branch charter was “on track” to be revoked on Wednesday after internal deadlocks meant there was disagreement on how many people were on the committee, the committee could not meet, and new members could not join the RSL.

RSL SA/NT President Dave Petersen.

“The bottom line is the committee in Darwin is dysfunctional and as a result they can’t govern themselves,” Mr Petersen said.

“There’s been a series of misunderstandings, handshake agreements that maybe haven’t been followed through, and now we’ve got threats of legal action, defamation, all sorts of allegations.”

Mr Petersen was in contact with the Territory government, with hopes it could facilitate “a free and fair election” for the club.

He said the election of a new committee would allow normal business to resume and the charter to be reinstated.

“We’re a long way to removing it permanently – threatening to do that is a last resort.”

He said a multimillion-dollar insurance payout from a fire that gutted the former RSL club building in 2018 was sitting unused, as members disagreed over how it should be spent.

“This is about the old guard and the new guard clashing,” Mr Petersen said.

The fire ravaged Darwin RSL building being demolished. Picture: Che Chorley

“Earlier this year they were talking about building a new club house, that’s what the old guys want, but I would suggest that’s not what contemporary, young, modern veterans are looking for.”

Mr Petersen said Top End veterans expected an RSL that worked to support them and their families.

“It’s not right that we have money and assets sitting idle when there are vets in Darwin tonight who are homeless, for example,” he said.

“The history of Darwin is it’s a military town … to not have a functioning RSL does not pass the pub test.”