❓ Mrs O'Malley raises concerns about ticket scalping at WA sporting venues, particularly affecting AFL finals attendees. The Minister acknowledges the issue, highlighting instances of fans being denied entry due to invalid tickets purchased from resellers like Viagogo and Ticketmaster Resale, and emphasizes VenuesWest's zero tolerance policy.
AnsweredQoN 658Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
EVENTS — TICKET RESALE
658. Mrs L.M. O'MALLEY to the Minister for Sport and Recreation:
(1) Can the
minister advise the house how people attending events at WA's sporting
and entertainment venues are being stung by ticket scalpers?
(2) With the
AFL finals underway, can the minister advise what is the message of both
VenuesWest and this government to those who do not purchase their tickets
directly from an authorised primary seller?
658. Mrs L.M. O'MALLEY to the Minister for Sport and Recreation:
(1) Can the
minister advise the house how people attending events at WA's sporting
and entertainment venues are being stung by ticket scalpers?
(2) With the
AFL finals underway, can the minister advise what is the message of both
VenuesWest and this government to those who do not purchase their tickets
directly from an authorised primary seller?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2)
I thank the member for this question on this very important issue that affects
many, many people. To highlight that, I will
read out a few snapshots of what has happened in the last year. In 14 events
last financial year, 354 unsuspecting fans were turned away from RAC
Arena due to the presentation of invalid tickets at the box office. I am sure
that the shock that those 354 people got is still insurmountable. We saw that
very sad story the other day about visitors to our town who were also turned
away from the footy.
Of those refusals, 245, or 69 per cent,
were for tickets purchased from Viagogo, a Geneva-based ticket reseller that the
state does not have powers over. Those tickets were sold from outside the
country, back into the country, and people then can be scammed. We do not have
power over that. Of the 354 refusals, 98 were for tickets purchased from
Ticketmaster Resale, amounting to 27 per cent of the refusals. Ticketmaster
Resale is also a problem. There is not a great deal of comfort for people
buying resales from some of these websites. On top of the high risk of these
tickets being invalid, tickets to Jerry Seinfeld, for example, were priced
three and a half times higher than the average original ticket price—that
is, $518 versus $145.30 on the Ticketmaster Resale site. Three times as much is
just beyond the pale. I know some people are desperate to go, but when they
turn up and their tickets are refused, it is just terrible. We need to work
with all the departments to make sure that, with the finals coming up, we do
not have people out there buying tickets and then being refused at the gate. It
is a bit different from days gone by when the member for South Perth used to
get in under the fence and then sit in someone else's seat!
The price increase on Viagogo was
even higher, at 3.7 times that of the original ticket price—that is,
$538 versus $145. That is a really big mark-up. I understand the desperation at
times when people want to see a particular event. At any given RAC Arena event,
around 300 to 500 tickets have been scalped; that is, at any event, 300 to 500
people have been turned away. It is widespread. People take the risk when they
buy those tickets. There comes a time when we have to do something about it.
VenuesWest has zero tolerance on scalped tickets and so do many promoters and
primary ticket sellers, so there is a movement.
VenuesWest pleads with the public
not to be scammed and not to grab tickets that may be dishonoured at the gate.
There would be nothing worse than for someone to get to the gate with their
bride and some friends and then be turned away. Not only would they not have
enough money for a beer, but also they would not see the show!
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members! He
cannot hear you anyway.
Mr M.P. MURRAY : So when
tickets are dishonoured, fans miss out and, as we know, if someone purchases a ticket
from a secondary ticket seller, they risk being ripped off and refused entry to
the event.
Several members interjected.
Mr M.P. MURRAY : I will say
that again. I am trying to. I understand why it is very important with the
finals coming up. Tickets for the next final in Western Australia will be
flying around and I know that many Eagles fans will be desperate to be at their
last game—at Optus Stadium, I must say; it might not be their last
game. We are working very closely with the consumer areas on making sure that
people do not get ripped off in the future. It is a problem at the moment. I am
bringing this to the attention of the house to make sure that we do not have
the same report that was in The West Australian last week about those
visitors to Australia who went away with a very sour taste in their mouth.
I thank the member for this question on this very important issue that affects
many, many people. To highlight that, I will
read out a few snapshots of what has happened in the last year. In 14 events
last financial year, 354 unsuspecting fans were turned away from RAC
Arena due to the presentation of invalid tickets at the box office. I am sure
that the shock that those 354 people got is still insurmountable. We saw that
very sad story the other day about visitors to our town who were also turned
away from the footy.
Of those refusals, 245, or 69 per cent,
were for tickets purchased from Viagogo, a Geneva-based ticket reseller that the
state does not have powers over. Those tickets were sold from outside the
country, back into the country, and people then can be scammed. We do not have
power over that. Of the 354 refusals, 98 were for tickets purchased from
Ticketmaster Resale, amounting to 27 per cent of the refusals. Ticketmaster
Resale is also a problem. There is not a great deal of comfort for people
buying resales from some of these websites. On top of the high risk of these
tickets being invalid, tickets to Jerry Seinfeld, for example, were priced
three and a half times higher than the average original ticket price—that
is, $518 versus $145.30 on the Ticketmaster Resale site. Three times as much is
just beyond the pale. I know some people are desperate to go, but when they
turn up and their tickets are refused, it is just terrible. We need to work
with all the departments to make sure that, with the finals coming up, we do
not have people out there buying tickets and then being refused at the gate. It
is a bit different from days gone by when the member for South Perth used to
get in under the fence and then sit in someone else's seat!
The price increase on Viagogo was
even higher, at 3.7 times that of the original ticket price—that is,
$538 versus $145. That is a really big mark-up. I understand the desperation at
times when people want to see a particular event. At any given RAC Arena event,
around 300 to 500 tickets have been scalped; that is, at any event, 300 to 500
people have been turned away. It is widespread. People take the risk when they
buy those tickets. There comes a time when we have to do something about it.
VenuesWest has zero tolerance on scalped tickets and so do many promoters and
primary ticket sellers, so there is a movement.
VenuesWest pleads with the public
not to be scammed and not to grab tickets that may be dishonoured at the gate.
There would be nothing worse than for someone to get to the gate with their
bride and some friends and then be turned away. Not only would they not have
enough money for a beer, but also they would not see the show!
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members! He
cannot hear you anyway.
Mr M.P. MURRAY : So when
tickets are dishonoured, fans miss out and, as we know, if someone purchases a ticket
from a secondary ticket seller, they risk being ripped off and refused entry to
the event.
Several members interjected.
Mr M.P. MURRAY : I will say
that again. I am trying to. I understand why it is very important with the
finals coming up. Tickets for the next final in Western Australia will be
flying around and I know that many Eagles fans will be desperate to be at their
last game—at Optus Stadium, I must say; it might not be their last
game. We are working very closely with the consumer areas on making sure that
people do not get ripped off in the future. It is a problem at the moment. I am
bringing this to the attention of the house to make sure that we do not have
the same report that was in The West Australian last week about those
visitors to Australia who went away with a very sour taste in their mouth.
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