The Australian government has announced plans to implement sweeping reforms targeting unfair trading practices in the ticketing industry, with a particular focus on dynamic pricing and hidden fees.

Key reforms include:

• A complete ban on dynamic pricing, which affects ticket prices based on demand
• Elimination of "drip pricing" practices that add hidden fees during purchases
• Restrictions on manipulative online practices that create false urgency

The proposed changes aim to address recent concerns over escalating concert ticket prices. A notable example occurred last month when Green Day tickets saw significant price increases due to dynamic pricing mechanisms.

While some artists like Iron Maiden and Oasis have already chosen to avoid dynamic pricing, critics argue that banning the practice may not address the fundamental issue of high demand for limited-availability events.

The Treasury Department will conduct consultations on these reforms before legislating the new prohibitions on unfair trading practices. The changes are expected to be implemented before the 2025 elections.

This initiative joins other international efforts to reform concert ticketing, including:

• The U.S. Department of Justice's antitrust investigation into Live Nation and Ticketmaster
• The UK's new probe into Ticketmaster's dynamic pricing practices
• Recent investigations by Australian media into Live Nation's business practices

The reforms represent the most comprehensive attempt yet to regulate concert ticket pricing and sales practices in Australia.

Related Articles

Previous Articles