Fair Trading Queensland has warned against buying tickets to ’Dinosaur Festival’

A South East Queensland mum has told of her heartbreak after realising the dinosaur event her son was looking forward to was cancelled, with Fair Trading Queensland now issuing a frightening warning.

Queenslanders have been cautioned against purchasing tickets to attend a “Dinosaur Festival”, after a new warning from Fair Trading Queensland was released last week.

Festival Ignite Pty Ltd, trading as Dinosaur Festival Australia, promotes events throughout the country as a way to be “transferred back to a time where roar-some, giant, weird and wonderful creatures roamed our planet.”

However, Attorney-General and Justice Minister Shannon Fentiman warned in a media release that people were “purchasing tickets for events that do not take place”.

Image from a past "Dinosaur Festival". Picture: Dinosaur Festival Australia Team

After cancelling one event in Brisbane in August, DFA said logistical issues were to blame.

“Our decision not to deliver the event on this occasion as planned this week is based on logistical issues, as the vessel containing the shipment of our equipment that makes up the show is severely delayed,” DFA said on their Facebook page last year after the event was postponed.

Melissa Manu, 33, from New Beith, said her friend brought tickets for the Brisbane event.

“I just sent her the money to buy mine, and she never got a refund for it. So I lost out as well as her and our other friends,” she said.

“I was annoyed and angry that they took advantage of everyone, especially kids. My kids were looking forward to that, they let my kids down.”

Anthea Hendriks said her son was disappointed he couldn't attend the festival. Picture: Supplied

Anthea Hendriks, 39, from Lawnton, said she purchased tickets to take her three-year-old son and was “disappointed” about the communication,

“Dinosaurs are his favourite thing, he also loves lights,” she said.

“He still asks when we’re going to see the dinosaur lights.

“We can usually only afford a few things like that a year, so haven’t been to anything else in its place.”

DFA is currently advertising for events to be held in 2023, but Fair Trading Queensland has warned against purchasing tickets as DFA has not made a booking with the proposed venues.

Anthea Hendriks sent a refund request in November. Picture: Anthea Hendriks

Cristy Handcock, 38, from Beaudesert, said her partner, Gavin, 40, agreed to work at the Dinosaur Festival in Sydney in December 2021, and took the family to work at the event, including daughters, aged 4, 14 and 16.

Ms Handcock said she worked 12-hour days and had to purchase UHF radios to communicate with each other.

Cristy and her partner Gavin worked at the event in 2021. Picture: Cristy Handcock

“I had a mental breakdown one day after a visitor abused the sh-- out of me,” she said.

“On the last day there was a staff meeting, and we were told we weren’t being paid because the venue wasn’t paid, and the venue wasn’t giving the dinosaurs back.

“We tried to pack up, but we were told we can’t because we weren’t allowed to enter the venue. We are owed about $6000, if not more.”

Ms Handcock said the mental health impact affected the family more than the loss of money.

Donna Smith said both herself and her husband worked at the Dinosaur Festival in Newcastle almost a year ago and still has not been paid.

“The worst part was that we were left to explain to the families that arrived on the day it was cancelled with no refunds,” she said.

Donna and her husband worked at the event in 2022. Picture: Supplied

“Looking at the young kids faces was heartbreaking.”

Fair Trading Queensland said the business also operated as Dinosaur Lantern Festival, Dinosaur Luminance, Monster Creature World and Festival Concepts Logistics Pty Ltd.

“Consumers who have purchased tickets for postponed, cancelled, or future DFA events are encouraged to contact their bank or financial institution to request a chargeback on their credit or debit card transaction, where possible,” the statement said.

“Queenslanders who have dealt with Festival Ignite Pty Ltd trading as DFA, who are not satisfied with their interaction, are urged to lodge a complaint with OFT online at http://www.qld.gov.au/fairtrading or by calling 13 QGOV (13 74 68).”
Dinosaur Festival Australia has been contacted for comment.