No. An RSA Marshal and a licensed crowd controller are intended to perform different roles within a Queensland licensed venue. An RSA Marshal supports the Responsible Service of Alcohol by observing alcohol consumption, identifying early signs of intoxication, encouraging responsible drinking and communicating concerns to bar staff, management or licensed security personnel. A crowd controller, however, is specifically licensed to perform crowd-control functions such as screening entry, monitoring or controlling patron behaviour and removing people from licensed premises. The important issue is not what somebody is called – it is what they actually do.

The Security Providers Act 1993 defines crowd control according to the functions being performed. Calling somebody an RSA Marshal, venue host or patron liaison officer does not avoid security licensing requirements if that person is actually being employed to perform crowd-control duties. This distinction is currently the subject of significant industry concern. The Security Providers Association of Australia (SPAAL) has made a formal submission to the Queensland Attorney-General seeking clearer boundaries between RSA Marshal duties and licensed security work. SPAAL is particularly concerned where unlicensed RSA Marshals are expected to monitor aggressive or disorderly behaviour, identify patrons for eviction, direct patrons to leave or participate in removals – activities that may constitute licensed crowd-control work.

RSA training is not a substitute for crowd-controller training. Licensed crowd controllers undertake specific training in areas including conflict management, risk assessment, de-escalation, lawful directions, removal of persons and incident response, together with security licensing and probity requirements.