Page 2711 - Week 09 - Tuesday, 16 September 2014
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Also, we do not want to see major resources, including police and so on, diverted into an area that we have had a Senate committee say is not a significant problem, outside a few events. In other jurisdictions it has resulted in problematic implementation. Certainly there is a case that was reported in the media where a dad who resold a ticket that he could not use was then charged. That occurred in Victoria.
That said, the government have argued in briefings—and I would like to acknowledge those briefings that were provided by the government and thank them for that—that such provisions are a requirement to attract major events, that scalping is broadly condemned and unsatisfactory and that people are allowed to resell their tickets even to a major event for face value. We note that there is a special provision to include reasonable costs in selling and buying to be included; for example, booking fees, costs to advertise, deliver and so on. So, under this legislation, people can sell their tickets essentially at the same cost as an original ticket plus reasonable costs, and certainly I acknowledge that.
But it is a problematic piece of legislation. There are arguments for and against, as is often the case, and that is why I go back to my original point that, in considering this legislation, it would be very useful, if we were doing it in principle, to actually know the full extent of the legislation, to have actually had the government’s amendments, which we have not seen, and also to keep that watchful eye and just see what rolls out of New South Wales and what the results of their parliamentary committee were before we were in a position where we had to essentially vote on this legislation. So they are the principal concerns with the four major elements for this bill.
The other issue I would like to raise is when the minister is actually going to apply this legislation. Essentially it is specified that this is for major events, and the minister has outlined those two events, the Asian soccer and the World Cup Cricket. We support getting those events to Canberra, and certainly we are not going to be doing anything that would stand in the way of that eventuating.
But we do want to make sure that we do not see a situation where other events without similar significance are prescribed and that we essentially see that the effect of a major event is diluted to the point where this becomes just a normal process for a Giants game, for a Brumbies game or for a final of the Raiders or whatever it might be. We need to make sure that this retains its special case as special events or major events. Certainly, when we watch this legislation roll out, that would be a major part of what we look at to make sure that the minister is not misusing this legislation in a way that is not intended or is not in the spirit of this legislation. I would certainly indicate that, should we see that occurring, we would certainly bring legislation in this place to restrict the minister doing so.
In conclusion, as I have said, we will not oppose this legislation but I think it is not being done in a good way. I think it would be judicious to wait for the amendments, it would be judicious to see what is occurring in New South Wales, and certainly we will be paying very close attention to the way that this legislation actually rolls out to make sure that it does not go beyond the intent of what is being passed here today.
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