RSL NSW must 'rebuild trust' after rort

The RSL NSW concedes it must rebuild trust with the public after a former judge recommended past president Don Rowe be investigated by police for rorting the charity.

Mr Rowe admitted using the organisation's money for his own purposes during last year's public inquiry and James Brown, the current president, says the previous leadership team was "rotten to the core".

Former NSW Supreme Court judge Patricia Bergin SC recommended the state government refer all evidence relating to Mr Rowe's expenses to NSW Police.

Mr Brown said the charity had "lost its way".

"The critical thing for us is to rebuild trust with the public and I think we've gone a long way towards doing that," he told reporters on Monday.

Mr Rowe spent more than $465,000 on his RSL credit card between 2009 and 2014 for his mortgage, family phone bills, flights and meals, the inquiry revealed.

Better Regulation Minister Matt Kean confirmed the matter had been referred to police and said the government supported efforts to "throw the book" at Mr Rowe for his "shameful and disgraceful behaviour".