The president of RSL NSW says it is "an entirely different organisation" to that under which its former leader allegedly misappropriated charity funds.
James Brown faced reporters in Sydney on Wednesday after former state president Don Rowe was charged with two counts of obtaining financial advantage by deception, following a two-year police investigation.
"(The organisation) has been damaged but it will return and we've seen the public and our members working really hard to get us back to where we need to be," Mr Brown said.
"Australia needs the RSL to be strong and effective but it also needs it to be well governed, clean and transparent."
The RSL NSW headquarters in Sydney has had an overhaul of staff, governance and finance systems, he said.
Rowe admitted using the RSL's money for his own purposes during a 2017 public inquiry led by former NSW Supreme Court judge Patricia Bergin SC.
The inquiry was established by the NSW government after an audit found Rowe withdrew $200,000 in cash and used his corporate credit card to pay for $38,000 in phone bills.
Rowe, who was state president from 2003 until 2014, is due to face Downing Centre Local Court on March 7.
Australian Associated Press
