The RSL has been a significant force in Australian politics but it’s clear it is now suffering from a range of problems. Once upon a time it had easy access to government, but the interests of veterans are now far more diverse and complex than in the past. It needs more than a regular visit to have tea with the Minister as was the practice of yore.

Once, waving the RSL veterans banner, it was the genuine voice of veterans. However, today its membership is barely 25% of the 600,000 serving or former ADF personnel. It gets a berth on the Australian War Memorial Council and the current incumbent, Greg Melick is also a significant obstacle opposing AWM representation of the Australian Wars against our First Nations people – Australia’s longest and most deadly war – at a time when reconciliation is an urgent need.

The Victorian branch of the RSL has recognised many of the problems and commissioned an independent review of the RSLV by Thought Post Board Advisory. The blog’s copy is marked strictly confidential so it has either been leaked – or more probably just shared around.

The report says the RSL operates via a federated model which has remained largely unchanged for a century and which covers all states and 261 sub- branches. The report says: “Following decades of social, economic and legal change, along with the changing demographic and needs of veterans in Victoria RSLV recognised the need for a roadmap outlining the changes that needed to be made to allow the organisation to thrive in the future.”

Among the report’s finding are that: the State Executive is comprised of people who willingly put themselves up for election without any consideration of the mix of skills and experience required to oversee the complexity of the  RSLV; little time is focussed on broader governance responsibilities such as culture and strategy; the by-laws are overly complicated and not fit for purpose; and, its operations lack visibility of its overall impact and has the financial profile of a small charity.

The organisation also operates under a complex and fragmented governance structure causing frustration and confusion among sub-branches. There are also changes to the State legislation which will impact poker machine revenue. Sub-branches struggle to find sufficient volunteers with the skills and experience needed.

The age profile of members is also a worry. Currently 68% of service members are over 70, 25% are over 80 and the average age of members is 74. Given the number of wars Australia has been involved in, this profile suggests younger veterans are simply not joining the RSL.

The report says: “The support needs of veterans are increasing in complexity, resulting in a need for the RSLV to clearly define what services it provides, who is going to provide those services; and how the services are to be funded.”

The report also recommends a variety of governance changes – most of which are to implement things most people would expect would already be in place. One sensible idea is to separate out governance roles from commemorations and remembrance events. Another is to review and rationalise the fragmented management of the multitude of funds the organisation manage.

It concludes that “the long term sustainability of RSL Victoria depends on its ability to remain relevant to contemporary and future veteran communities. This includes a clear strategy for advocacy, visibility and service alignment.”

After all you wouldn’t want to run a military campaign without developing a clear strategy.

The problem is wider than Victoria though. The Open Door Initiative at Flinders University has shown that many women feel unwelcome in RSL ‘spaces’. One woman, they report, said they are not for younger vets – especially those who still work or have a family.

The report also said that fewer than 10% of the veterans in some states choose to join their local RSL club and that in some branches non-veteran members outnumber veterans.  The problem is also worse than that because former ADF members are eligible – whether they served in a war or not – so their disinclination to join compounds the problem.

There is also a problem with sexism.

A former female Queensland sub-branch president recalls being labelled “a real bitch” by male branch members saying “It’s typical of the experience of being a woman, a woman with a brain who’s prepared to stand up for herself.”

The Open Door report concluded: “Last year the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran suicide recommended creating a national body to better govern  the veterans’ non-profit sector. This presents a real opportunity to modernise veteran support. But without a strong focus on gender inclusion and  cultural reform from the start, history may repeat, entrenching the same exclusions that have kept so many veterans on the margins for decades.”

The problems with the RSL – and the fact that it is no longer a clear representative of the larger veteran community – also raise questions about the role of the RSL on the Australian War Memorial Council. Over the years it has always been represented although there have been and currently are other veterans who have had very distinguished and courageous careers on the Council.

Does the AWM need another RSL representative on the Council? There have been distinguished members on the Council such as Sir William Keys and “Digger James” the amputee former doctor. But where is their like today? Should other veterans organisations be considered for the role? …and should any new Council member replacing Major General Melick be aware of the need to ensure that our first, longest and deadliest war is represented in the AWM?

Big questions which ought to be answered with some new, creative and inclusive answers. Sadly, that’s unlikely.