MEDIA STATEMENT: RSL Australia is aware of issues raised in the Australian Senate by Senator Jacqui Lambie regarding RSL New South Wales State Board.

The RSL passes on its sympathy to John’s wife Nhu, his family, friends and his veteran colleagues,” RSL Australia President Greg Melick said. Following on from his service in Vietnam in 1967 and 1968 and the ending of the war, Gippsland Victoria-based John made a number of visits to the country and was instrumental in locating the remains of fallen Vietnamese soldiers killed in the battle of Fire Support Base Balmoral in May 1968.

RSL National President Greg Melick has written to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese advising that as the nation’s largest ex-service organisation, the RSL stands ready to leverage its considerable skills, expertise and lived experience to help the Government develop and deliver a comprehensive response to the Royal Commission’s final report. The RSL has also highlighted seven recommendations in particular that we would like to see implemented quickly as they will have a significant positive impact on current and former serving members and their families.

In 2025, Australia will commemorate a major milestone, the 110th anniversary of Anzac Day – and coinciding with this, is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

The Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) has advised that applications are open for veterans and families to volunteer with the department in the delivery of these Anzac Day services in France and Türkiye in 2025.

The Returned & Services League of Australia (RSL) has expressed its deep concern at today’s announcement by Defence Minister Richard Marles that the medals awarded to senior Australian officers serving in the Afghanistan campaign will be revoked.  

The Returned & Services League of Australia (RSL) is urging the Australian Government to take comprehensive and sustainable action to implement the recommendations outlined in the Final Report of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide. 

RSL Australia attended the ESORT (Ex-Service Organisation Round Table) meeting on 27 August 2024. Here is the communique provided by DVA summarising the meeting.

The Japan-Australia Grassroots Exchange Program offers descendants of former Australian POWs a path towards healing and understanding. The Japanese Government have generously offered two places for descendants of POW's on the next Grassroots Program, tentatively scheduled for February/March 2025.

The RSL is continuing to monitor forest fires burning on the Gallipoli Peninsula in Türkiye.  The fires broke out earlier this week following high humidity and extreme temperatures in the region.  The historic Gallipoli Peninsula is a sacred site for Australia, New Zealand and Türkiye following the 1915 landing of Australian and New Zealand troops that gave rise to the ANZAC legend. 

The RSL is monitoring possible damage to Australian graves in the Gaza War Cemetery.  The cemetery is maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and comprises graves of Australian and other Commonwealth servicemen killed in the First and Second World Wars.  

Leading Defence experts have questioned Australia’s preparedness to fulfil our international treaty obligations and the ability of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) to meet current and potential future missions. In an extensive commentary, former Army Chief, retired Lieutenant General Peter Leahy and John Powers, a retired senior United States Special Forces and Intelligence Officer, submit that the ADF is stretched too thin, not fit for immediate combat and is unlikely to be in better shape for some time. 

The RSL has lodged a submission to the Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee on the Exposure Draft of the Veterans' Entitlements, Treatment and Support (Simplification and Harmonisation) Bill 2024, in which the RSL outlines its support for key provisions in the legislation and provides further information to assist the Senate Committee’s deliberations.

The RSL says the Hobart Cenotaph is a sacred site for Defence veterans, their families and for all Tasmanians and its heritage values, cultural and spiritual significance must be respected and protected for all time.  The National League supports the introduction of Tasmanian legislation similar to that applying in other States to protect its sanctity and heritage.  

The RSL has expressed its anger and condemnation at the latest desecration of the Vietnam War Memorial in Canberra. The desecration of the nation’s sacred places by these cowardly vandals is deplorable, and the perpetrators should face the full force of the law.

RSL National President Greg Melick recently spent time in Timor-Leste as part of a delegation to support improvement in health services and economic initiatives through the Timor Awakening Program and also to build the relationship between RSL Australia and Timorese veterans.

This is a fantastic opportunity for current and former serving Australian Defence Force personnel to sail on board the incredible, purpose-built, fully accessible Lo Spirito di Stella when it visits Australia as part of the Wheels on Water 2023-2025 round-the-world sailing tour.

DVA grants of up to $1,000 are available to RSL Sub-branches to host a community event this October in support of Veterans’ Health Week (VHW). Applications close on 30 August 2024.

The RSL has welcomed the Government’s legislation currently before the Parliament to simplify and harmonise veteran rehabilitation and compensation entitlements. Under the legislation, all new compensation claims from 1 July 2026 will be dealt with under a single piece of legislation – an improved Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (MRCA) – regardless of when or where the veteran served.

The RSL has called for concerted government action to protect Australia’s war memorials and for an increase in penalties for the cowards and vandals caught defacing and desecrating them. This follows the recent spate of vandalism and the daubing of violence and hate slogans on national war memorials in Canberra and elsewhere around the country, with the most recent incident the desecration of the Korean and Vietnam War Memorials in the national capital last weekend.

On 20 June, the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide released a book entitled ‘Shining a Light: Stories of Trauma & Tragedy, Hope and Healing’ to bring to life the consolidation of many lived experience witnesses of the Royal Commission.  The book has provided the RSL an opportunity to reflect on the support we offer to veterans and their families.