The boss of the NSW Returned and Services League says licensed clubs should stop using the RSL letters in their names because it is creating public confusion between the veterans’ charity and gambling dens, as a new analysis shows just 4 per cent of RSL club donations goes to returned soldiers.
RSL, Diggers and Memorial licensed clubs made an estimated $1 billion in profit in 2023 and spent $35 million on community grants, including $1.3 million to veteran welfare services, under a program that entitles clubs to a tax rebate if they donate a proportion of their gambling profits to worthy causes.
NSW state RSL president Mick Bainbridge during the ANZAC day dawn service in Martin Place.Credit: Kate Geraghty
The Returned and Services League of Australia, a veteran support not-for-profit, separated from the licensed clubs when liquor laws were reformed in the 1970s.
But it allowed the clubs to keep the RSL letters in their names, and they remained closely affiliated, as many veterans were members of their RSL sub-branch as well as their local RSL club where they went to socialise.
But RSL NSW president Mick Bainbridge said society had changed in the intervening decades and gambling had become a significant part of the licensed RSL clubs’ business, which was damaging their local communities including veterans.
“We cannot under any circumstances allow confusion between the not-for-profit that exists to provide support to veterans and their families, and a business reliant on gambling and the service of alcohol,” Bainbridge said.
“The real RSL – the veteran support not-for-profit – is about care and welfare, and we would like to see our name protected. It’s time for clubs to change the name that they adopted 60 years ago; frankly, it must be returned.”
His comments came as a landmark inquiry into veteran suicide found 3000 service personnel had died unnecessarily over the last three decades and recommended a new agency to help veterans adjust to civilian life.
Studies have shown that veterans are a high-risk group in relation to gambling problems and experience higher levels of gambling harm than the broader community. Among ADF members who have transitioned to civilian life, 13.4 per cent reported at least some level of gambling harm, and 4.6 per cent had clinically significant levels.
RSL clubs made $1 billion in profit and, according to an analysis by NSW RSL, donated $35 million to community organisations under the ClubGrants scheme last year.
A Herald analysis indicates they granted a combined total of $23 million under the sub-category that allocates money to the broader social fabric of society, which includes veteran welfare. The combined $1.3 million that they donated to veteran welfare specifically is roughly the same amount that Castle Hill RSL donated to its own golf club under a different sub-category.
Seven Hills Toongabbie RSL Club made a similar contribution to the maintenance of its golf course via two separate grants of more than $600,000 to a pro golf shop and a greenkeeping outfit, while the Woolgoolga Diggers Club donated $530,000 to its course.
The Minns government is reviewing the ClubGrants scheme to assess whether it complies with modern standards and provides value for money.
The NSW RSL asked in its submission to the review for a new funding category specific to veteran welfare, which currently receives just 1.4 per cent of all ClubGrants contributions in NSW and 4 per cent of contributions by RSL clubs.
It has also recommended that the approximately 170 clubs that use defence-related branding – including Diggers, Memorial and Soldiers clubs, and those that use imagery such as RAAF aircraft, soldier silhouettes, poppies or weaponry – be required to contribute to this category.
“This will ensure that the recognition of veterans is not tokenistic, but instead adequately supports what Clubs claim to represent,” the submission said.
Among the grants that were donated to veteran welfare, the single biggest donation of $195,252 went to Legacy, which supports veterans’ families.
RSL and Services Clubs Association president Margot Smith said her organisation had recommended in a joint submission with ClubsNSW and other industry bodies that clubs be permitted to donate to groups that delivered statewide services to vulnerable people.
“The current guidelines prohibit clubs from funding services that benefit people in other communities, which reduces the ClubGrants support available to organisations that support vulnerable people – including veterans – as this support tends to be provided statewide,” Smith said.
She declined to comment on the call for RSL clubs to forfeit their letters and defence branding.
Minister for Veterans David Harris, who also holds the gaming and racing portfolio, said the NSW RSL’s submission was one of hundreds that would be considered by the government once it had received the findings of the review.
“Branding is a matter for the NSW RSL and clubs,” he said. “These are private organisations.”
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