Industry body Live Performance Australia have accused the Turnbull Government of being “missing in action” when it comes to stopping online ticket scalping.
In a new statement LPA says that Australia has “failed to keep up with international efforts” to combat ‘ticket bots’, with new legislation passing in the UK late last week criminalising the bots.
The move follows a move by the US government back in December 2016 to ban bots that purchase masses of tickets in quick time.
In March, Nick Xenephon introduced a a motion into the senate which called on the Government to outlaw the use of ticketing bots, and encouraged laws regarding ticket scalping to be enforced at the federal level – but it failed to gain the support of the Government.
“Ticket bots are a growing problem around the world,” says LPA Chief Executive Evelyn Richardson. “They are being used to scoop up large numbers of tickets to popular shows which make it harder for genuine fans to get tickets to see their favourite artists.”
“Bots are a problem for all e-commerce businesses not just our industry. This is a global problem and the impact on fans is enormous,” she continued. “Bots are a global problem, and Australia should be part of the global response.”
In recent months, tickets to tours by Bruno Mars, Greenday, The Smith Street Band and Midnight Oil have popped up on resale sites at exorbitantly inflated prices just minutes after they have gone on sale.
Just last week news emerged that the Victorian Government was planning new anti-scalping laws, making it an offense to resell a ticket for more than its face value.
