Pop icon Lady Gaga's recently announced concert in Melbourne will be protected under the Allan Labor Government's tough anti-scalping laws after the Melbourne leg of The MAYHEM Ball tour was declared a major event.
Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos today announced that Lady Gaga's concert will be declared a major event, protecting Gaga's most devoted fans - known as her 'Little Monsters' - from being ripped off by ticket scalpers.
Under the Major Events Act 2009, tickets to a declared major event can't be advertised for resale or resold for more than 10 per cent above their original value.
Ticket package sellers are also required to be authorised by the event organiser, and individual ticket advertisements must also include original (face value) price, intended resale price, and seating information.
Any ticket seller who does not comply with the above are subjected to penalties that can range from $988 up to $592,770 depending on the nature of the offence.
Lady Gaga will perform at Marvel Stadium 5 December this year, with presale tickets for the show going on sale this Monday, 14 April at 10:00am, before the general public sale commences at 12:00pm, Thursday, 17 April.
The concert - one of only three announced last week for the Australian leg of the 14-time Grammy winner's latest world tour - will mark the first time Lady Gaga has performed in the country in over a decade.
Declaring the concert a major event will help deter scalpers from snatching up coveted tickets, allowing more Victorian superfans to be a part of Lady Gaga's exhilarating return to Australian stages.
The declaration marks the latest marquee event to be classified as a major event, following on from the recently announced NBL x NBA Melbourne Series, and joining the likes of highly anticipated upcoming events including Beetlejuice The Musical, this year's RISING festival and the Oasis Live '25 concerts.
To learn more about declared events, visit vic.gov.au/ticketscalping.
As stated by Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos
"Ticket scalping is a disease and we don't want Lady Gaga fans getting into a bad romance with dodgy sellers so they can just dance at a gig. That's why we've declared this Melbourne concert a major event."
"Melbourne is Australia's live music capital, and we take that reputation seriously. That's why our message to any would-be scalpers is plain - do not resell tickets to this concert at inflated prices, because you will be fined.''
As stated by Live Nation Australasia COO Alex Klos
"After more than a decade, the iconic Lady Gaga is returning to Australia. The MAYHEM tour will make a highly anticipated stop in Melbourne, and by declaring this event a major event, Live Nation is dedicated to protecting fans from scalpers."
