In light of the nation-wide ban on non-essential gatherings in
response to the COVID-19 epidemic in Australia, many ticketed
events, including music concerts and festivals, have been cancelled
or are likely to be cancelled shortly.
It is important for consumers to understand their rights under
the Australian Consumer Law (ACL) when
this occurs, and equally important for event organisers to
understand their statutory obligations when dealing with
ticketholders for cancelled events.
The ACCC has released guidance on this issue, and many state bodies,
such as NSW Fair Trading and the WA Commerce Department, also have material
which is relevant for both consumers and organisers. This article
sets out the general position regarding consumer rights in relation
to cancelled events and considers how the government's COVID-19
directives may impact this.
