General News
3 July, 2026
City’s RSL at war
THE Cairns RSL Sub Branch and the Cairns RSL Club are embroiled in a constitutional wrangle which has ended up in the Supreme Court.
The club rents its Esplanade premises from the sub branch which says the dispute centres on the club’s attempt to remove a requirement for sub branch approval of constitutional changes.
The club says the matter instead relates to governance, compliance and administrative reforms approved by members.
The sub branch has defended its 2023 decision to reject proposed amendments to the club’s constitution after the club commenced legal proceedings seeking a court determination.
Sub branch president Nathan Shingles said the club’s constitution currently required both a special resolution of voting members and written approval from the trustees of the Returned and Services League of Australia (Cairns Sub-Branch) before constitutional changes can take effect.
“The Constitution is clear. Constitutional change requires two approvals, not one. The sub branch’s approval is not a ceremonial step, it is a specific requirement contained within the club’s own governing document,” Mr Shingles said.
The matter dates back to 2023 and follows meetings with members.
According to the sub branch, members approved a package of proposed constitutional amendments at a special general meeting on 27 March 2023 following consultation and information sessions held earlier that year.
The notice of meeting issued before the vote stated adoption of the proposed constitution was subject to approval by the Cairns RSL Sub Branch under clause 12.1(b) of the existing constitution.
The club subsequently sought approval from the sub branch on 3 April 2023. The sub branch board considered the proposal and resolved on 9 May 2023 to reject the amendments, formally advising the club of its decision on 16 May 2023.
Mr Shingles said the proposed amendments included the removal of the constitutional provision requiring sub branch approval for future changes to the constitution.
Under the current constitution, constitutional amendments require approval from both voting members and the sub branch.
“There were many changes in the 2023 constitution and during the consultation to club members they skimmed past that particular section re sub branch approval,” he said.
“When the draft constitution was sent through for ratification and approval is when the sub branch board picked up that significant removal.”
The sub branch has also raised concerns about other provisions within the current constitution, including a clause stating that four club directors are to be nominated by the sub branch and then elected by members.
“There is meant to be four sub branch-endorsed directors on their board however this has not been the case for over a decade,” Mr Shingles said.
Cairns RSL Club chairwoman Gail Russell said the matter had been referred to the Supreme Court following legal advice.
“This was not the preferred outcome, but the consistent legal advice we received was that this was the appropriate course of action,” she said.
“The directors would be failing in their duties if they did not act on that advice and in the best interests of members.”
Ms Russell said members had approved 28 constitutional amendments and that the proposed changes related to governance, compliance and administrative provisions.
“The amendments relate to governance, compliance and administrative provisions designed to ensure the Constitution reflects contemporary regulatory requirements and supports the club’s future operations,” she said.
She said the amendments did not diminish the club’s commitment to veterans or the community, nor alter outcomes for either group of members.
The club said it had contributed about $420,000 to more than 120 groups, including 21 ex-service and ADF organisations, between 2023 and 2025.
During the same period, it said the sub branch received almost $1.6 million in rent and annual agreed payments.
Ms Russell said the court application sought a determination regarding the operation of the constitution and was not intended to affect the role or operations of the sub branch.
“The club remains hopeful that the matter can be resolved as efficiently as possible and in the best interests of all members,” she said.
The sub branch has also launched an online fundraising campaign to help cover legal costs associated with defending the proceedings.
The legal proceedings are expected to determine whether the constitutional approval requirement remains enforceable and whether the proposed amendments can proceed.
