The Melbourne International Comedy Festival has today scored new protection from ticket scalping.
The festival will now be classed as a 'major event' by the Victorian Government, meaning that "tickets to a declared major event cannot be advertised for resale or resold for more than 10 per cent above the original value".
The new classification means that authorised ticketing officers will work alongside Victoria Police to prosecute scalpers and enforce penalties ranging between $806 to $483,500, depending on the size of the scalping offence.
“The Melbourne International Comedy Festival prides itself on being accessible for everyone. By declaring the Festival as a major event, we’re making sure all comedy lovers can access tickets at a fair price," shares Minister for Tourism & Major Events Martin Pakula.
“Major events, such as the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, are hugely important to our visitor economy, helping to drive Melbourne’s international positioning and profile, tourism, branding and business links."
“I am delighted that Melbourne International Comedy Festival has been declared a Major Event. Ticket resale has been a growing problem for our audiences and artists with patrons inadvertently purchasing tickets for greatly inflated prices," adds MICF Festival Director Susan Provan.
“This endorsement will ensure that Melbourne International Comedy Festival remains one of Victoria’s most affordable events, and gives our audiences confidence that they are purchasing tickets from the primary source – for the right price."
The Melbourne International Comedy Festival is the world's third largest comedy festival and brings in up to 77,000 people each year. It kicks off on 27 March, check theGuide for more info on events.
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