Cover-up in SLSQ claims

ONE of the key allegations facing Surf Life Saving Queensland management is a decade-long “cover up” of driving offences by an official.

The Gold Coast Bulletin can reveal some of the allegations made in an explosive letter of complaint to SLSQ are backed up by members.

The SLSQ regards the letter as a “threat” and has taken legal advice on proceeding with defamation.

A Bulletin yesterday referred to allegations including a lifesaver being drunk on duty, sexual harassment and staff kickbacks.

But the letter also says there has been a “major 10-year cover-up into unlicensed driving and falsification” which was aided by officials.

Members yesterday confirmed the allegation was about a colleague using a surf vehicle while unlicensed deunteers

spite officials being aware of it.

A lifesaving source said: “The question for surf lifesaving will be whether they conduct an internal inquiry, and if they do, how far that inquiry goes back.”

The explosive letter has sparked tensions between vol- and surf sport competitors on the Gold Coast.

“We can’t even get basic surf essentials. We ask the club for a new pair of shorts and they say we can’t get them. If you ask for a paddle board to compete next weekend, they can’t get it,” the member said.

Another senior lifesaving source confirmed there were tensions within the Coast clubs between volunteers and surf stars.

“At some of the clubs you are seeing 55 per cent of the budget going to surf sports,” the source said.

The whistleblower who sent the letter to SLSQ branded the state’s lifesaving committee, which allocates safety equipment to dangerous beaches, as “out of touch” and only interested in surf sports.

The marketing department was described as having “its own private agenda” and staffers had no beach patrol experience.