AusLeisure

In an expansion of its initiatives to reduce illegal ticket resales and scalping, the Victorian Government is looking to introduce new 'ticketing officers' with the power to seize tickets which have been illegally resold.

Funding was announced in the latest Victorian budget for ‘authorised ticketing officers’ with powers to seize tickets illegally resold for designated major events, including music and sporting occasions.

For-profit (+10% of face value) ticket resale is illegal in Victoria  for certain ‘declared major events’, such as large sporting fixtures. Those who violate the law can be fined up to $475,000..

While the Major Sporting Events Act 2009 originally applied only to a select few major sports matches, the Victoria Government says it will “expand the number of declared major events ... to prevent ticket scalping”, including non-sporting events such as music and live entertainment.

The officers will patrol major events, targeting those touting tickets near the gates, as well as online on Viagogo and classifieds site Gumtree, according to Melbourne newspaper The Age.

According to the 2009 act, the ticketing officers can be either regular police officers or private security guards licensed under the Private Security Act 2004.

Victorian Sports Minister John Eren (pictured) said the proposals would “give fans of all types a fairer go and bring even more events to Victoria”. 

1st May 2018 - TTF WELCOMES VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT’S TOURISM BACKING IN 2018/19 BUDGET 

9th March 2018 - LIVE PERFORMANCE AUSTRALIA OPPOSES PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO VICTORIAN MAJOR EVENTS LEGISLATION

8th March 2018 - GUDINSKI: ‘PROMOTERS AREN’T THE BAD GUYS’ IN ED SHEERAN TICKET SCALPING DEBATE

26th February 2018 - DRAFT ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY CODE OF PRACTICE TO PREVENT WORKPLACE DISCRIMINATION AND HARASSMENT

20th February 2018 - LPA RELEASES NEW SAFETY GUIDELINES FOR THE LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND EVENTS INDUSTRIES

23rd January 2018 - AUSTRALIAN OPEN FANS TURNED AWAY AFTER BUYING RESALE TICKETS 

1st December 2017 - LIVE PERFORMANCE AUSTRALIA PRESENT 2017 CENTENARY AWARDS

23rd November 2017 - GOOGLE UPDATES ADWORDS POLICY TO RESTRICT ONLINE TICKET SCALPERS 

17th November 2017 - AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT BEGINS TICKET SCALPING CONSULTATION 

16th November 2017 - VICTORIA GOVERNMENT TO CRACKDOWN ON TICKET SCALPING

5th October 2017 - CHOICE NAMES VIAGOGO AMONG AUSTRALIA’S SHONKIEST PRODUCTS OF 2017 

1st September 2017 - GOOGLE URGED TO BLOCK ONLINE RESELLERS WHO DUPE TICKET BUYERS

28th August 2017 - ACCC COMMENCES LEGAL ACTION AGAINST TICKET RESELLER VIAGOGO 

1st May 2016 - FRONTIER TOURING ISSUES FACEBOOK WARNING ON TICKET SCALPING AND UNAUTHORISED RESELLERS

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.