Queensland Ambulance Service make formal complaint to NRL over alleged sexist remarks

Queensland Ambulance Service has submitted a complaint to the NRL after sexist comments were allegedly made by an official towards a female paramedic during a game in Far North Queensland.

A female paramedic was the subject of alleged sexist comments by an official at the NRL game at Barlow Park on Saturday, August 19. Picture: File photos

Queensland Ambulance Service has submitted a complaint to the NRL after sexist comments were allegedly made by an official towards a female paramedic during a game in Cairns.

The “inappropriate comments” were made at the South Sydney Rabbitohs and St George Illawarra clash at Barlow Park on Saturday, August 12.

It is understood two paramedics, a man and a woman, approached an official for directions; the official mistook both paramedics as men, saying “hi, gentlemen”.

After realising one paramedic was female, the official allegedly said “oh, she’s a girl … oh well, she doesn’t matter … she’s cute, though”.

The NRL’s Integrity Unit has received an official complaint from QAS.

The alleged incident happened prior to the NRL Round 24 game between the Dragons and Rabbitohs at Barlow Park. Picture: Emily Barker/Getty Images

“The Queensland Ambulance Service is aware of an alleged inappropriate comment directed towards one of our officers working at the NRL Rabbitohs and Dragons game in Cairns last Saturday night and has requested NRL officials to review the incident,” a QAS spokeswoman said.

The NRL vehemently denies the man responsible was an NRL official, saying the man was a “contractor”.

“Following a complaint, the NRL Integrity Unit is making inquiries regarding an alleged comment made by a contractor engaged by a club at the Round 24 match in Cairns,” a NRL spokesman said.

A spokesman for the South Sydney Rabbitohs, the home team, said the man responsible was a “local contractor” engaged to help with game-day logistics.

Barlow Park is owned and managed by the Cairns Regional Council.

Council’s CEO Mica Martin said the council would support an investigation by the NRL Integrity Unit “if and as required”.

“We understand there has been an allegation about the conduct of a contractor engaged at the Round 24 match. As it was not a Council event, the matter is being reviewed by the NRL. Council views any complaints about discrimination with utmost seriousness,” Ms Martin said.

Saturday’s game was the first NRL premiership game played in Cairns since 2018.

More than 8000 spectators watched the Rabbitohs triumph 26-14, including two tries to the league’s top try scorer Alex Johnston.

Barlow Park also played host to a pre-season trial game between the Dolphins and North Queensland Cowboys in February 2023.

Originally published as Queensland Ambulance Service make formal complaint to NRL over alleged sexist remarks