The Australian charities watchdog has ruled the national arm of the RSL did not exercise responsible financial decision making when it gave a departing president a car worth close to $30,000.
The Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission investigated after outgoing RSL national president Rear Admiral Ken Doolan was gifted a car worth almost $27,500 and a set of books worth $3600 in June 2016.
The investigation found RSL National did not comply with several of its charity obligations and it was issued a directions order in February to address its non-compliance.
The ACNC found the charity breached its governance standards and did not exercise responsible financial decision making.
“In the commissioner’s view, RSL National did not take reasonable steps to ensure compliance by its responsible persons with regards to financial decision-making,” the commission said in mid-February.
RSL National has been ordered to appoint a governance expert to conduct reviews of the charity’s board and governance and prepare a report outlining an action plan within four months of the expert’s appointment.
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