CHANGE is often referred to as being as good as a holiday and time will tell if that applies to the state Returned Services League.
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The NSW RSL has been embroiled in scandal since last year following allegations of financial mismanagement among its executive.
As a result the entire RSL council stood aside pending an investigation into the matter, which is still continuing. At the state congress this week a new president was elected, with Leeton RSL Sub-branch president John Power hopeful that will mean a more positive outlook for the organisation.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s son-in-law James Brown was elected the new president of NSW RSL.
“I don’t know too much about him, but those that do, think he is the right person for the job,” Mr Power said. Mr Brown is a decorated Army officer and said the league would have to deal with the recent troubles but also grow its membership, including younger veterans.
"First we have to get to the bottom of the many inquiries and investigations underway, some of which are serious and criminal, and that's going to occupy my mind in the near future," he said.
The investigation into the financial issues is focusing on former state president Don Rowe's credit card expenses of $475,000, including more than $200,000 in cash withdrawals and, crucially, how the state council handled questions about these payments at the time.
It will also consider some council members receiving shares of consulting fees totalling $2.5 million from the league's aged care arm, RSL LifeCare, despite holding voluntary positions.
Mr Power said the congress moved this week to put new measures in place to try and prevent a similar situation from occurring in the future. “Of course you can’t prevent it entirely, but there will be more transparency,” he said.
“All round it was a good congress.” Earlier this week Mr Power said the Leeton Sub-branch had already had one member not sign up again to the organisation due to the ongoing scandal at the top.