The New South Wales RSL will not sell poppies on Remembrance Day next month, an inquiry into charitable fundraising has heard.

The RSL's state president, James Brown, told the hearing the traditional sale of poppies at services would not happen this year.

The organisation suspended fundraising earlier this year, ahead of the inquiry that heard evidence publicly raised money was misused.

Mr Brown also told the inquiry a large number of veterans had died by suicide this year, and most of them were young.

He said the RSL was not doing enough to help those at risk, and that was part of the reason he took on the unpaid role of state president in May.

Remembrance Day poppies are often seen at services in Australia. ( AAP: Lukas Coch )

"For those veterans who were in need it was helping some, but not nearly as many as you would expect," he said.

"It was not leading debate on veterans' policy either — here in NSW, or at the federal level.

"There were a lot of issues that I thought veterans were facing including but not limited to the issue of veteran suicide that the RSL was simply not doing enough to fix."

RSL needs generational change: Brown

The former army captain was the last witness to be called at a probe into charitable fundraising, which is looking at events that saw the NSW RSL suspend fundraising for the first time in a century amid evidence of the improper use of publicly raised money.

During his evidence, Mr Brown said there was a need for generational change within the RSL, and that older veterans had expressed concern about the welfare of younger servicemen.

The inquiry previously heard former NSW RSL president Don Rowe misused an RSL credit card and made inappropriate cash withdrawals.

Mr Browne said letters have been sent to three state councillors, requesting their resignation, because their role in matters that led to the inquiry including Mr Rowe's expenses.

Don Rowe resigned as NSW RSL president in 2014. ( Wikimedia Commons: Bidgee )

The NSW RSL vice president, Ray James, was exempt from this because of his efforts to make councillors more accountable.

"I have considered his position with regard to the actions he took at the time with what has become known as the Don Rowe cover-up," James Brown said.

He told the hearing reform is underway to make payments to staff more transparent, including the monthly online publishing of expenses.

And he said he was determined to address the many concerns of RSL members.

The inquiry will accept oral submissions next month, and a report will be given to the Minister for Better Regulation, Matt Kean, in February.