Bill to stop ticket-scalping passed in NSW

A bill aimed at cracking down on ticket scalping was introduced in NSW parliament yesterday by Anthony Roberts, Minister of Fair Trading.

According to Minister Roberts the Fair Trade Amendment (Ticket Reselling) Bill 2013, endeavours to improve transparency and set clear guidelines for people when selling or buying tickets on the secondary market.

“This bill will bring openness and transparency to the secondary ticketing market, help to protect consumers from price gouging and fraud, and empower event organisers to enforce their ticket terms and conditions,” Roberts said in Parliament yesterday.

“The reforms are a light touch and will not involve the imposition of costly red tape.”

Regulations set out in the bill apply only to events held in New South Wales where there are conditions limiting the circumstances in which tickets can be resold.

It states that any advertisement for the sale of tickets, other than one published by event organisers, must specify a ticket number, row and seat number, readily found terms and conditions, a notice specifying the circumstances where the resale of the ticket may result in its cancellation and contain a photograph of the ticket that does not show any barcode. These requirements will also apply to e-tickets.

Minister Roberts said the proposed requirements would not apply if a ticket is sold through a resale system that has been publicly authorised by the event owner. Nor does it apply to private communications, such as a Facebook page, used by consumers to offer tickets within their personal network.

Said Minister Roberts, “The New South Wales Government recognises that there is a need for a secondary ticket marketplace for people who can no longer attend an event and need to sell their tickets. The measures in this bill, which have the support of sporting bodies, entertainment promoters and the nation’s leading ticket facilitator, will provide greater protection and transparency to consumers who wish to sell or purchase tickets in the secondary marketplace, with minimal cost and disruption for event organisers.”

But according to online ticket marketplace, viagogo, the proposed legislation introduces unnecessary complications to consumers already facing a difficult resale process and won’t be successful in deterring scalpers.

“When you make things more difficult, people choose the easiest route. In this case, that’s a return to selling tickets on the black market in pubs, car parks and outside venues. That would be a step backward, not a step forward,” said viagogo spokesperson Alex Levenson.

“The Bill favours the primary ticket sellers and promoters who want to restrict and control the market at the expense of consumers. If the NSW government insists on pushing ahead with it, we call on them to consult the people of NSW and provide evidence that this is what consumers really want.

Consumer watchdog Choice also expressed concerns about the bill earlier this year in a statement offering feedback to proposed legislation.

“While CHOICE agrees with most of the principles behind the legislation, namely allowing greater opportunity for fans to purchase tickets to events, allowing consumers to resell tickets purchased and provide consumer protection and information, we believe that the proposed legislation, which seeks to allow the enforcement of event owners’ terms and conditions, may tip the scales in favour of event owners over consumers.”