Unlicensed bouncer cops $15,000 fine
Posted by editor (editor) on Apr 03 2009
2009 >>

A 28-year-old Meadowbrook man has been fined $15,000 after working as a bouncer without a security licence.

Former crowd controller Nathan Josef Crowe was today found guilty of 58 counts of contravening the Security Providers Act 1993.

Beenleigh Magistrates Court heard Mr Crowe worked without a security licence over a four-month period, from March to July 2008, when he was employed at Windaroo Tavern in Beenleigh.

Mr Crowe’s licence had expired in August 2007.

Magistrate Trevor Morgan ordered Mr Crowe pay a $15,000 fine plus court costs, and a conviction was recorded.

Minister for Fair Trading Peter Lawlor said south-east Queensland bouncers were on notice that they risked fines of up to $50,000 if they did not have an appropriate licence.

“A crowd controller is a person who is responsible for keeping order in a public place, so it is vital that they have a current security licence,” Mr Lawlor said.

“Most crowd controllers are very professional and play an important role in maintaining order in sometimes challenging circumstances.

“But we will not hesitate to crack down on those who think they can operate without having to comply with the law.”

Mr Lawlor urged anyone with knowledge of crowd controllers working without a security licence to contact the Office of Fair Trading.

“The state government has introduced tough new legislation to clean-up the industry and has made it very clear that unprofessional conduct will not be tolerated,” he said.

“Over the past nine months, we have issued nearly 200 show cause notices and refused, suspended or cancelled more than 280 security licences, including 167 in Brisbane and at the Gold Coast.”

For more information about licensing of security providers, visit www.fairtrading.qld.gov.au or phone 13 13 04.

Last changed: Oct 06 2009 at 2:03 PM