Shocking conflict of interest claims now surround Coffs Harbour Council’s controversial plan to outsource lifesaving jobs at local beaches as the union representing the lifesavers calls on the community to attend this Thursday’s council meeting. Join the campaign to save the Lifeguard Service by attending the Council meeting at the Council Chambers on Thursday 28 August 2025.
A letter written to council by the United Services Union (USU) details the conflict of interest concerns, namely that a senior council employee intimately involved with the lifesaver outsourcing process has links to the organisation who may receive any new contract.
“This just keeps getting worse,” said Luke Hutchinson, USU Official.
“We learned on July 24 council was considering secret plans to outsource local lifesavers’ jobs and since then we’ve simply asked them to sit down with their lifesavers and tell them what is happening, but they’ve refused.
“Now they have representatives of the commercial outfit who are planning to take over traipsing through their workplace with the proverbial tape measure out getting ready to move in.
“This is causing enormous anxiety amongst our members.
“What’s worse is Coffs Harbour lifesavers are being told they will be paid $50,000 less a year if they are sacked and then re-hired by this new outfit.
“And just to kick them while they’re down lifeguards are now learning a senior council employee has links to the outfit that’s to take their jobs away, it’s unconscionable.”
The USU is calling on members of the community to contact their Councillors with their concerns and to come to this Thursday’s council meeting at 5pm to show their support.
A notice of motion from Councillor Judge is being presented at the Council to reject the outsourcing.
WHAT: Coffs Council meeting
WHEN: 5:00 PM, Thursday 28 August
WHERE: Coffs Harbour Council Chambers, 27 Gorton St
“This is your beach, this is your kid’s safety, this is your service, if the council won’t defend it, the community must,” Mr Hutchinson said.
“Following proceedings before the New South Wales Industrial Relations Commission on 27 August 2025, the United Services Union (USU) provides a link to our correspondence dated 19 August 2025, along with the City of Coffs Harbour’s response dated 22 August 2025.”
