The WA branch of the RSL has overturned a ban on the performance of Welcome to Country ceremonies and the flying of the Aboriginal flag at Anzac and Remembrance Day services after a public backlash.

On Friday, it was revealed RSLWA introduced a ban in response to some members taking issue with the Ode of Remembrance being translated and delivered in Noongar at last year's Anzac dawn service in Fremantle.

Chief executive John McCourt said the RSLWA "values and respects the Australian Indigenous community". ( ABC News: James Carmody )

The veterans' organisation said at the time it did not support the performance of the ceremonies at any sites which commemorated those who died during the war.

"While having utmost respect for the traditional owners of land upon which such sites and memorials are located, RSLWA does not view it appropriate that a Welcome to Country is used at sites that were specifically established to pay homage to those who died and who came from a wide range of cultural backgrounds," the RSLWA stated.

The announcement drew swift and harsh criticism from across the political and public spheres and on Sunday RSLWA chief executive John McCourt announced in a statement that the policy had been withdrawn.

"Given the level of community reaction to RSLWA's advisory policy on cultural matters relating to commemoration, this policy has now been withdrawn," the statement read.

The RSLWA had ruled only the Australian, NZ and WA flags could be flown on Anzac and Remembrance day, not the Aboriginal flag. ( ABC News: Rhiannon Shine )

"RSLWA is concerned that its position on the matter had unfortunately drawn misunderstandings of its intent.

"RSLWA values and respects the Australian Indigenous community and, in particular, Indigenous veterans.

"RSLWA accepts the policy may have been open to misinterpretation.

"Its advisory policy will be reviewed and relaunched in the near future following further dialogue with interested parties."

RSLWA apologises for 'misunderstanding'

RSLWA state president Peter Aspinall addressed the matter speaking from Albany in the state's south alongside WA Premier Mark McGowan and WA Minister for Veterans Issues Peter Tinley.

RSLWA state president Peter Aspinall said the organisation would conduct a thorough review of its cultural respect policy. ( ABC News: Kathleen Mochan )

Mr Aspinall said while he believed the reaction had come about through a misunderstanding, as to the best of his knowledge no Welcome to Country was currently performed at Anzac or Remembrance Day commemorations.

He apologised for any offence the policy may have caused.

What the RSLWA initially proposed All content, bar the New Zealand national anthem, is to be presented or sung in English

All content, bar the New Zealand national anthem, is to be presented or sung in English Only the Australian, New Zealand and WA flags may be flown

Only the Australian, New Zealand and WA flags may be flown No Welcome to Country and/or Acknowledgement of Country ceremonies

No Welcome to Country and/or Acknowledgement of Country ceremonies Respecting the right of regal, vice-regal and government representatives to use the Acknowledgement of Country but not at the dawn service or services at recognised war memorials

"I believe it's a misunderstanding of what we intended in the way we wrote the cultural respect policy," he said.

"There was certainly never any intention whatsoever to talk about the banning of any Welcome to Country of Acknowledgment of Country and Indigenous peoples.

"We will now conduct a very thorough review of it and that will include of course all of the relevant organisations — including all of the Indigenous veterans organisations — to make sure that the policy as we intended it and the way it should have been written actually will now be written in a way that is acceptable to all.

"I apologise for any misunderstanding of what our intentions were and it certainly had nothing to do with — in any shape or form — attempting to be disrespectful to our Indigenous brethren and in the veteran community — our Indigenous veterans."

Mr Aspinall said the policy would be relaunched in due course.

WA Premier welcomes policy reversal

WA Premier Mark McGowan, who had been vocal in his opposition to the policy, immediately welcomed the announcement.

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"I think that's a wise decision and I think made with the best of intentions, so I'd like to thank the RSL for their listening and for their decision today," he said.

"I know that it's been a very difficult period for the RSL.

"I think the memory of our servicemen and women who have died and our servicemen and women who have served should be above controversy and it's important that it continue to be acknowledged by all Australians in a respectful and dignified way.

"We've had people from all backgrounds serve in the Australian Defence Forces, the stories of Aboriginal men and women who have served — in particular the Aboriginal men back in the first and second world wars — is an extraordinary one and I think it is something that deserves all of our respect and all of our acknowledgment."

While there was no indication whether the policy would include any bans or exclusions when it was relaunched, Mr McGowan made it clear he would like the controversy to remain a part of the organisation's past.

"I think this period appears to be over and I think that's a good thing," he said.

"The RSL is a great organisation, it's done great work for 100 years.

"I think we need to put this behind us now and I think the RSL has made the right decision, the respectful decision towards all Australians, including Indigenous Australians."