RSL NSW President Mick Bainbridge, business partner Paul Raymond-James resign 10 minutes before board vote on removal (edited)
Derek Leslie, chairman of the Regional Presidents’ Council, said he and his deputies would also leave their positions.
“I think people are really stunned,” Leslie said of the four resignations. “I don’t think anyone expected this. I certainly didn’t. I think they resigned because they felt their position was untenable.”
Since Bainbridge was elected president in 2023, the organization has endured numerous controversies, including allegations that she and James overcharged their legal clients and failed to act in their best interests, allegations of bullying and resignations from the board. They denied all allegations. In August, Bainbridge filed a lawsuit against RSL NSW on behalf of the charity.
Chief executive Giles Hurst took stress leave.
Separately, RSL NSW is exploring options to ensure it remains financially sustainable, including centralizing assets currently managed by sub-branches.
Documents received by reporter Show Bainbridge and James developed his own version of this proposal before publicly distancing themselves from the concept and claiming to members that it was a management plan to seize their assets.
On Friday, James sent 12 separate emails containing leaked documents and private correspondence to each of the district presidents in an attempt to discredit the board. The last email attacked a district president for allegedly spreading false information about him.
“Apparently the ones smearing nonsense and spreading lies are those with questionable military service and those who don’t understand what it’s like to actually ‘serve,'” he wrote.
“Liars, leakers and cowards have no place at RSL NSW and [be] RSL kicked out of NSW.”
The meeting had to first vote on a resolution for Bainbridge and James to consider tendering their resignations. If 51 percent of delegates had voted in favor of this resolution, they would have been asked to vote on whether Bainbridge and James should be removed from their positions, which would have required a 75 percent majority.
James told reporter he and Bainbridge had the numbers to reject both motions, but had decided to resign on principle.
This leaves a disability discrimination complaint against RSL NSW with the Human Rights Commission, a complaint with the Australian Taxation Office for alleged tax evasion by RSL, and a referral of RSL to the Attorney-General’s Office for breaches of the Royal Commission Act.
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Shortly after their resignations, the four former managers issued a press release claiming that the investigation into Bainbridge and James had cleared them of wrongdoing and listing 17 “increasing failures” of the RSL leadership.
“We have lost confidence in the leadership of RSL NSW and can no longer serve in a culture that tolerates deception, manipulation, corruption and disrespect for veterans and members,” executives said in the statement.
“We are resigning from the board of RSL NSW in solidarity with our veterans, members, volunteers and sub-branches. real RSL.”
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