NSW RSL inquiry findings to be handed down

The future of NSW RSL will be revealed as the findings from a public inquiry into the organisation are expected to be handed down.

The inquiry was set up under the Charitable Fundraising Act by the state government after the organisation's former president Don Rowe was accused of, and later admitted to, using its funds for private expenditure.

Public hearings started in September last year and finished at the end of October with Public Inquirer Patricia Anne Bergin SC, hearing from Mr Rowe among dozens of other RSL members and legal advisers.

Ms Bergin is due to hand down her findings to NSW Better Regulation Minister Matthew Kean by February 1.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said she was looking forward to the report and dealing with any recommendations it makes.

"I love the RSL as an organisation and 99.9 per cent of the members do the right thing," Ms Berejiklian told reporters.

"They were the ones urging us to have the inquiry because they wanted to clear their name as an organisation to make sure they can get on with the job of what they do best."

In his closing submission to the public inquiry, senior counsel assisting the inquiry, Anthony Cheshire SC, said there was a culture within the organisation to never question authority.

Mr Cheshire said the lack of circulation of jobs at the top of the NSW RSL meant no "new blood" had been afforded the opportunity to assess an organisation "crying out for a shake-up and real reform".

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