Government flags need to talk tickets with AFL

We’re sorry, this feature is currently unavailable. We’re working to restore it. Please try again later.

Advertisement

This was published 6 years ago

Government flags need to talk tickets with AFL

By Daniel Cherny

Victorian Sports Minister John Eren has flagged the need to sit down with the AFL to discuss expanding declared event status to games beyond the grand final in order to protect against scalping.

Anti-scalping legislation is set to be debated next week with the government looking to safeguard events like major musicals and concerts from scalpers.

Sports minister John Eren.

Sports minister John Eren.Credit: Joe Armao

However football is also on the agenda, with Eren mindful of demand for games such as other finals and the Anzac Day clash between Essendon and Collingwood.

Currently only the grand final is protected under anti-scalping legislation, although Eren said he was open to extending that to include other games.

“We would obviously want to do it in conjunction with organisations,” he told The Age on Tuesday.

“The football is a bit more different than theatre shows and other events we have. But nevertheless, last season we saw a huge influx in the demand of tickets through the finals, not just the grand final.

“And so I think some discussions obviously need to take place with the AFL, to ensure that people are treated fairly and fans don’t miss out unnecessarily.

“So to that end, we’re always in discussions with all different codes about what events they would like to see, where a declaration is made. And so we’re in deep discussions with the AFL in relation to the finals series.”

While any changes appear unlikely to be in play for this season, Eren said: “Next year we’d be definitely talking about it”.

Advertisement

AFL spokesman Patrick Keane said the league was open to discussions with the government.

Under the current act, if the minister requests an event be declared, the declaration must be made nine months before the event. The organiser then has 60 days to submit a ticket scheme. This complicates the ability to declare AFL games in advance, especially finals, with finals fixtures determined only a week or two before each final other than the grand final.

Labor propose to make it illegal to sell tickets at more than 10 per cent above face value to any declared event, extend the legislation to cultural events beyond sport.

Both the opposition and the Greens say Labor’s bill doesn’t go far enough, arguing that they need to ensure event organisers disclose how many tickets are allocated to fans, sponsors and corporate packages.

The proposed legislation had been due to be discussed earlier in the month, but was delayed.

Most Viewed in Sport

Loading