Exclusive: Surf Life Saving’s lengthy file of claims of sexual assaults of nippers which led to up to $10 million in compensation
Children as young as 11 are part of a lengthy sexual assault claims file at Surf Life Saving Queensland that is facing compensation payouts of up to $10 million. SPECIAL INVESTIGATION >>>
Gold Coast
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CHILDREN as young as 11 are part of a lengthy sexual assault claims file at Surf Life Saving Queensland that is facing compensation payouts of up to $10 million.
One has been paid out about $2.4 million. Others have been given up to $400,000 and an apology.
A special Bulletin investigation involving legal sources and club whistleblowers reveals:
● SLSQ has settled claims of historic sex offences dating back to the early 1990s. Survivors are as young as 11, many of them teenagers under the care of club officials.
● Complainants are both young boys and girls, some from Gold and Sunshine Coast clubs.
● Attorney-General Shannon Fentiman, who previously expressed “deep concern and dismay” about the claims of assaults, met with SLSQ general manager Dave Whimpey on Wednesday at Parliament House to discuss an internal review.
● Members fear a SLSQ review will be an anonymous survey and rushed before the next surf season.
● The consultant appointed by Mr Whimpey, who isn’t accused of any wrongdoing in relation to any of the claims, and the SLSQ’s board has worked for the organisation before.
● Lawyers want an independent review saying a survey was “simply not good enough”.
A SLSQ spokesperson on Friday confirmed a number of legal actions had been settled, but “the terms of any settlement are of course confidential”.
Surf Life Saving QLD: Alleged rape, sex scandals rock clubs
The spokesperson described the meeting with the Attorney-General to discuss the Safe and Respectful Environments Independent Review as “positive”.
“Surf Life Saving Queensland has worked with (the consultants) Suiko previously in a sports strategy workshop.”
The spokesperson said the SLSQ’s CEO and board were confident their review would “keep members’ experiences confidential”.
“The survey has the capability to hear in full depth members’ experiences. SLSQ advises anyone who has been the victim of illegal activity to go to the Queensland Police. The review will be completed later this year and the findings will be made public.”
A legal source told the Bulletin: “These are historical cases, some dating back almost two decades. The compensation is up to $10 million. It has either been paid or sought in unsettled claims. This relates to claims of physical and sexual abuse, and inappropriate behaviour. It’s not been made public.”
Shine Lawyers is representing some sexual assault complainants and is calling for an independent review.
Shine’s abuse law expert Kimberly Allen said a so-called cultural review that would involve surveying association members was “simply not good enough”.
“Our investigations to date show very concerning allegations within surf lifesaving clubs in Queensland, not just with respect to the culture but the actions of those in positions of authority. The time has definitely come for an extensive independent review,” she said.
“People involved in surf lifesaving generally feel a strong loyalty to their club as it offers them a community to feel a part of and probably has done for many years. For the truth to come out an independent review seems like the only way forward.”
In February, the Bulletin revealed a clubbie had been charged with the alleged sexual assault of a woman at a Coast clubhouse. The case was not related to other complaints and SLSQ, at that point, was not undertaking a review because it was a police investigation.
A month later, SLSQ announced a review into culture and behaviour after a surf lifesaving family wrote to a Gold Coast MP calling for an end to the “boy’s club” and for management to be more “accountable” to members.
Since 2019, the Bulletin has reported on a series of complaints made by whistleblowers including a sex tape involving a minor being shared by a Coast clubbie and footage posted on Facebook by Sunshine Coast surf stars mucking around in shower rooms.
A file sent to and tabled by the SLSQ board included allegations of a lifesaver being drunk on duty, sexual harassment and staff kickbacks.
Shine Lawyers has convened hook-ups between lawyers overseeing compensation cases and found serious patterns in the allegations of surf offending.
“We hold serious concerns about what policies and procedures are in place dealing with under-age alcohol consumption and club sleepovers that involve young females and males in dormitories during Surf Life Saving Queensland sanctioned events,” Ms Allen said.
“Survivors we represent have been sexually abused as teenagers on club premises by perpetrators who were either volunteers or held paid roles at the time of the abuse.
“Parents of children involved in surf lifesaving throughout Queensland need to be able to trust that their children are safe.”
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