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Anzac Day is a significant annual moment for the Australian public to gather and commemorate the fallen troops of our Australian Defence Force and interact with the veterans who should be held in the nation’s highest regard.
We collectively stand in silence to acknowledge those killed in past wars and support those survived veterans in our own community who chose to put their lives on the line in service of the country.
We look to the Returned & Services League of Australia to assist, guide and provide support for these crucial young and old members of our society.
Only, the spectre of another organisation hovers silently over the shoulder of this mission – RSL clubs, commercial venues with limited connection to the RSL and its charitable activities.
Anzac Day is undoubtedly a primary commercial opportunity for these purveyors of gambling and alcohol. It’s a past, current and future collection day that has been monetised for the benefit of the few and erodes the nation’s confidence in military tradition at a time when it’s needed most.
At this point, there is a confusing mess of perception between RSL clubs and the non-for-profit RSL organisations for the general public.
Former Australian Army Special Forces Green Beret and RSL NSW president Michael Bainbridge, who served almost 15 years in Defence including with 2nd Commando Regiment, confirmed that public confusion about the relationship between RSL clubs and RSL sub-branches is a crucial issue this Anzac Day.
“We’ve had growth of attendance on Anzac Day commemorations, that’s Sydney and across the 300-plus sub-branches that we have across the state. If anyone is interested, they can always go on the RSL New South Wales website and find out their local community commemoration timings and attend that,” he said.
“I think the biggest thing for RSL New South Wales this year is pointing out and focusing on the differences between RSL clubs and RSL New South Wales. A lot of people think that by going to the club, the local Razzie or Risso, that they’re helping veterans, or, more concerningly, that veterans go there for help.
“(However) the clubs are about beer and pokies … RSL New South Wales is about care and welfare. So, if there are any veterans out there or family members of veterans that would like some help, or would like to be part of our community, please, you must understand the differences.”
Traditionally, almost all RSL clubs were formed as or from sub-branches as part of the league but over time, they became separate entities with RSL clubs and RSL sub-branches going their own ways under liquor licensing law changes in the 1970s.
The Returned & Services League of Australia became the largest veteran charity in Australia, while the RSL clubs made their bacon on the back of gambling, poker machines (pokies) and alcohol sales.
“There’s a long history to it. I think around the 70s, there was legislation introduced by the government that split the RSL sub-branches as a charity with the RSL clubs,” Bainbridge said.
“Unfortunately, at the time, they had a lot of members that were off both executive roles for the club and the RSL sub-branch, and we probably lost, I’d say, close to a billion dollars of property to clubs in peppercorn deals, which is really unfortunate, but the name was never addressed, so they don’t really have a right to use that name.
“We’re really desperately trying to pull that apart and make sure that the community are aware of that difference. It’s a big thing for us.”
The damage that RSL clubs have done to public perception brand of the Australian Defence Force and veteran services is incalculable.
Only 1.5 percent of money lost to poker machines in Victorian RSLs went to improving veteran welfare, according to data under an Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health report released this year.
The report, highlighting data from the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission, indicated that RSL clubs took $2.1 billion in gambling revenue over a 10-year period but spent 12 times more on business expenses than support programs. The data approximated that for every $100 lost on poker machines, only $1.50 was spent on veteran support.
“There are other issues with the clubs that we’re facing off with now, they do pull in close to a billion dollars a year, which we receive only about $326,000 worth of funding from,” Bainbridge said.
“It’s a real concern if they’re trading off imagery of veterans, service and military equipment and the (commemorative) poppies, I think the community should be made aware that they’re not there supporting our veteran cohort.
“Regrettably, every year I’ve raised this issue and every year I’m had quite venomous and vitriolic attacks from the club system. (However), as the president of RSL New South Wales, I won’t take a backwards step and I’m passionate about this issue.
“We’ve had the royal commission conclude, we know that gaming and alcohol can be an issue for veterans within our community, not all, but there can be some. We want to mitigate that risk as far as possible but also make sure that the community are aware.
“So, if members of the public and veterans are giving money for what they believe to be a charitable organisation, they need to come to RSL New South Wales not RSL clubs.”
