Investigators call for public help with bouncer bribery allegations
Posted by editor (editor) on Apr 27 2009
2009 >>

Townsville bouncers and nightclubbers have again been urged to contact the local Office of Fair Trading if they have any evidence of security providers accepting bribes from drunken, banned or underage patrons seeking access to licensed venues.

Fair Trading Minister Peter Lawlor said investigators had exhausted all leads in interviews and discussions with former crowd controllers, industry leaders, security firms and police.

“There is some circumstantial information to suggest a small number of security providers may have taken bribes, but the Office of Fair Trading has been unable to obtain names, dates or places,” Mr Lawlor said.

Anyone with first-hand knowledge of the alleged bribes should call the Office of Fair Trading on 4799 7489.

“Townsville crowd controllers are on notice that they risk losing their security licences and jobs if caught taking bribes,” Mr Lawlor said.

“That warning is being strongly reinforced by local industry leaders and licensed venues, so this has been a very useful wake-up call to the industry generally.

“Most crowd controllers are very professional, but we will not hesitate to crack down on those who think their security licence puts them above the law.

“Accepting bribes for any reason is totally unacceptable and would cast serious doubt on a security provider’s fitness to continue working in the industry.”

Mr Lawlor said the state government had introduced tough new legislation to clean-up the industry and made it very clear that unprofessional conduct would not be tolerated.

“Since July last year, we have issued over 200 show cause notices and refused, suspended or cancelled more than 300 security licences, including 22 in Townsville,” he said.

“Anyone caught working in the security industry without a licence faces a fine of up to $50,000.”

Last changed: Oct 06 2009 at 2:16 PM