Crack down on scalpers: New laws to protect Victoria’s sports fans from ticket price gouging
NEW laws targeting ticket scalpers will make it illegal to rip off fans at a multitude of Victorian sporting events, in a win for supporters sick of being price gouged by online resale sites.
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NEW laws targeting ticket scalpers will make it illegal to rip off fans at a multitude of Victorian sporting events, in a win for supporters sick of being price gouged by online resale sites.
Anyone caught selling tickets to blockbuster events for more than 10 per cent above face value would face fines of between $790 and $475,000, under changes to be introduced in State Parliament today.
AFL matches such as the Anzac Day blockbuster and finals are expected to be granted “declared event’’ status for the first time, making it illegal for anyone to sell tickets for huge profits.
The Herald Sun understands the Andrews Government will introduce a Bill making it illegal to sell or advertise for resale tickets to any declared event above the 10 per cent cap.
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A law requiring nine months for a major event to be “declared’’ will be abolished and replaced with a two-week lead-in period.
And the state government will be given the power to tell event organisers such as the AFL, Australian Open tennis chiefs and international tour operators what matches are declared.
The AFL Grand Final is currently the only declared sporting event in Victoria.
The government last night refused to comment on the new Bill, but said it “would have more to say on this soon’’.
A spokesman for Sports Minister John Eren, Kosta Pandos, said: “We’ve always said we’d consider measures to crack down on scalpers and make it fairer for fans.”
It is believed the only limit to the changes is a requirement declared status is announced before tickets go on sale.
It will not be an offence for people to buy a ticket to a declared event from a scalper or resale site.
The AFL has resisted calls to make more blockbuster matches declared, allowing resale sites such as Viagogo to sell seats at inflated prices.
Under the proposed changes, event organisers would be given 14 days to argue why a match should not be off-limits to scalpers.
The extent of secondary ticket price hikes was laid bare during this year’s AFL finals, with a single seat to the sold-out Richmond-Geelong clash advertised for $706.73 — more than eight times face value.
To grant an event declared status under the proposed Bill, the Sports Minister must give written notice to an event organiser.
The event organiser may also request that the Minister make a major event ticketing declaration.
Penalties for anyone caught reselling declared tickets above the 10 per cent cap will depend on the nature of the offences.
Victoria’s stance on inflated secondary ticket sales follows moves to combat the problem in NSW, South Australia and Queensland.
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