The ACT Legislative Assembly is set to consider new major events laws next week, as plans to ban ticket "scalping" for sporting games and other events attract concerns from online traders.
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Opposition Leader Jeremy Hanson will receive a government briefing on the bill on Friday, days after legislation considering fair trading provisions in ticket reselling was referred to a New South Wales Parliament committee for review.
Mr Hanson met with industry representatives to discuss the bill on Thursday, including ticket trading website Viagogo, which has argued the laws could adversely affect purchasers' rights in reselling tickets.
Introduced by Attorney-General Simon Corbell in August, the bill would outlaw scalping, ban pitch invasions and restrict patrons from re-entering venues after being evicted.
Scalping is the on-selling of tickets for events, usually at an inflated profit.
The government has introduced the bill to coincide with the lead-up to Canberra hosting international sporting fixtures including the Asian Football Confederation Asian Cup and the Cricket World Cup.
Other provisions include allowing magistrates to issue 12-month orders banning individuals from attending major events, as well as giving strong search powers to police and authorised security officers
Corporate sponsors and major event organisers would be protected from rival brands and businesses being promoted, and some street trading and rival advertising would be banned in or near venues.
Anyone reselling or trading tickets for "substantial gain" or receiving financial benefits without permission of event organisers could be prosecuted under the proposed laws.
The laws would also block some ticket giveaways in lotteries or competitions and as part of the sale or trade of other goods.
Viagogo spokesman Alex Levenson said purchasers should be able to safely and legally resell tickets to major events.
Founded in Britain in 2006, the company has a growing market share in Australia and has agreements with AFL clubs including Collingwood and Richmond, as well as NRL club the Sydney Roosters.
"If you restrict people from being able to resell a ticket, specifically where there is profit involved, that doesn't mean they are going to not try to gain the profit," he said.
"Rather they are going to try to take an easier route to gain the profit in ways in which it is very hard track down. So maybe that's on a street corner and you have the consumer who's faced with the situation where they may have to meet a potentially shady character."
The laws would bring the ACT into line with some other states and territories and meet requirements from major event and sporting competition organisers.
Mr Levenson said safety mechanisms can be built into online trading, including his company's policy of not paying the ticket seller until eight days after the event.
"What we are trying to stand up for is the consumers' right to own a product that they paid for and for them to have the ability to do with it what they please.
"We believe once you hand over your money to the AFL or the NRL or whatever event, you own it. We don't think they should have the right to say what you can do with something you have paid for, often months in advance."
