World Touring Melbourne wins case against Australian Grand Prix over cancelled performance in 2020

A music promoter has won a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against the Australian Grand Prix over the snap Covid cancellation of a Robbie Williams performance.

Robbie Williams performing at the 2022 AFL Grand Final. Picture: Michael Klein

A music promoter has won a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against the Australian Grand Prix over the snap cancellation of a Robbie Williams performance.

The pop star was due to perform at Lakeside Stadium as part of the Formula 1 event in March 2020 before it was cancelled just before gates opened due to the threat of Covid-19.

World Touring Melbourne sued the Australian Grand Prix Corporation for $8.7m in damages alleging it breached its obligations and engaged in misleading conduct when it stated chief health officer Brett Sutton ordered the gig’s cancellation.

But Dr Sutton had texted organisers saying the cancellation was ultimately a matter for them.

In a judgement released on Friday, Supreme Court Justice Clyde Croft ruled in World Touring’s favour and ordered the AGPC to pay $2.84m in damages.

Spectators wait at the gate before being told that the 2020 Australian Grand Prix has been cancelled. Picture: AAP

Director of global touring for World Touring, Richard Beck, said he felt “completely vindicated” by the result.

“We spent over four years planning our event series with AGPC and invested millions of dollars to produce this show, only for it to be wrongfully cancelled,” he said.

“This decision serves as a reminder that those in positions of authority must exercise greater care when making decisions that impact the live music industry and beyond.”

Justice Croft found the AGPC engaged in misleading and deceptive conduct towards the music promoter by directing the concert should not go ahead.

World Touring had sought $7.6m for costs it incurred and another $1.1m in lost profits and interest over the cancellation.

The AGPC previously rejected a $4.8m settlement, instead offering just $1.

The judgement came after a three-week trial in June, with Justice Croft on Friday saying legal costs would be decided at a later date.

In a statement, the AGPC said that it acknowledged the court’s decision and was “reviewing the judgment to determine next steps’’.

Mr Beck paid tribute to his Australian promoter partner, Paul Dainty, for his support throughout legal proceedings.

Andrew Westacott, who was the Melbourne Grand Prix boss at the time of the 2020 race cancellation, declined to comment when contracted by the Herald Sun on Friday.

He instead pointed to a statement put out by the Australian Grand Prix Corporation.