Paul Keating has derided the outgoing RSL President as a “dope” and accused him of abusing the “the quiet solemnity of Remembrance Day” for a controversial speech criticising Australia’s low defence spending.

The former Labor Prime Minister and Veterans’ Affairs Minister Matt Keogh both rebuked retired Major General Greg Melick after he criticised Australia’s “complacency” on future conflicts in his speech at the Australian War Memorial on Tuesday.

However, RSL President Peter Tinley backed Major General Melick, saying he had a long and enduring track record of serving his country and was “entitled to have a last reflection on where the country’s going”.

“Nothing Greg Melick said should be taken with offence,” he told the Nightly.

“It was said with the point of view of a patriot who is

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