{"id":"a-2014-42","name":"Major Events Act 2014","slug":"major-events-act-2014","collection":"act","jurisdiction":"act","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":"42 of 2014","makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":23920,"registerId":"act-a-2014-42-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-01","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Major Events Act 2014","content":"Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nAustralian Capital Territory\nMajor Events Act 2014\nA2014-42\nRepublication No 8\nEffective: 23 February 2026\nRepublication date: 23 February 2026\nLast amendment made by A2026-4\n\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nAbout this republication\nThe republished law\nThis is a republication of the Major Events Act 2014 (including any amendment made under the\nLegislation Act 2001, part 11.3 (Editorial changes)) as in force on 23 February 2026. It also\nincludes any commencement, amendment, repeal or expiry affecting this republished law to\n23 February 2026.\nThe legislation history and amendment history of the republished law are set out in endnotes 3\nand 4.\nKinds of republications\nThe Parliamentary Counsel’s Office prepares 2 kinds of republications of ACT laws (see the ACT\nlegislation register at www.legislation.act.gov.au):\n• authorised republications to which the Legislation Act 2001 applies\n• unauthorised republications.\nThe status of this republication appears on the bottom of each page.\nEditorial changes\nThe Legislation Act 2001, part 11.3 authorises the Parliamentary Counsel to make editorial\namendments and other changes of a formal nature when preparing a law for republication.\nEditorial changes do not change the effect of the law, but have effect as if they had been made by\nan Act commencing on the republication date (see Legislation Act 2001, s 115 and s 117). The\nchanges are made if the Parliamentary Counsel considers they are desirable to bring the law into\nline, or more closely into line, with current legislative drafting practice.\nThis republication does not include amendments made under part 11.3 (see endnote 1).\nUncommenced provisions and amendments\nIf a provision of the republished law has not commenced, the symbol U appears immediately\nbefore the provision heading. Any uncommenced amendments that affect this republished law\nare accessible on the ACT legislation register (www.legislation.act.gov.au). For more\ninformation, see the home page for this law on the register.\nModifications\nIf a provision of the republished law is affected by a current modification, the\nsymbol M appears immediately before the provision heading. The text of the modifying\nprovision appears in the endnotes. For the legal status of modifications, see the Legislation\nAct 2001, section 95.\nPenalties\nAt the republication date, the value of a penalty unit for an offence against this law is $160 for an\nindividual and $810 for a corporation (see Legislation Act 2001, s 133).\n\nR8\n23/02/26\nMajor Events Act 2014\nEffective: 23/02/26\ncontents 1\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nAustralian Capital Territory\nMajor Events Act 2014\nContents\nPage\nPart 1 Preliminary\n1 Name of Act 2\n3 Dictionary 2\n4 Notes 2\n5 Offences against Act—application of Criminal Code etc 3\nPart 2 Major events and important sporting events\nDivision 2.1 Major event declaration\n6 Major event—declaration 4\n7 Major event—declaration requirements 5\n8 Major event declaration—variation 6\nDivision 2.2 Important sporting event notice\n9 Important sporting event—notice 7\n10 Important sporting event notice—requirements 8\n\nContents\nPage\ncontents 2 Major Events Act 2014\nEffective: 23/02/26\nR8\n23/02/26\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nPart 3 Crowd management\nDivision 3.1 Application—pt 3\n11 Application—pt 3 9\nDivision 3.2 Crowd management\n12 Meaning of prohibited item 9\n13 Offences—unauthorised entry to event venue 12\n14 Offence—interference with event 13\n15 Offence—possessing prohibited item 14\nDivision 3.3 Crowd management powers\n16 Offence—authorised person may search personal property 15\n17 Offence—authorised person may do scanning search 16\n18 Offence—police officer may do other searches 17\n19 Scanning, ordinary and frisk searches—requirements 18\n20 Offence—police officer may ask for person’s name and address 19\n21 Authorised person may refuse entry 19\n22 Authorised person may give direction 20\n23 Offences—failure to comply with direction 21\n24 Offence—ban orders 22\nPart 4 Protection of commercial arrangements\nDivision 4.1 Protected symbols\n25 Application—div 4.1 26\n26 Notice of protected symbol 27\n27 Offences—unauthorised use of protected symbol 28\n28 When protected symbol is used for a commercial purpose—pt 4 29\n29 Presumption etc relating to advertising or promotion etc 30\nDivision 4.2 Clean zones\n30 Application—div 4.2 31\n31 Definitions—div 4.2 31\n32 Notice of clean zone 32\n33 Offences—unauthorised street trading in or adjacent to clean zone 32\n34 Offence—unauthorised advertising in clean zone 33\n35 Offence—unauthorised advertising that is clearly visible from clean\nzone 33\n\nContents\nPage\nR8\n23/02/26\nMajor Events Act 2014\nEffective: 23/02/26\ncontents 3\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n36 Exceptions—s 34 and s 35 offences 34\n37 Defences—s 34 and s 35 offences 35\nPart 5 Protection of ticketing arrangements\n38 Definitions—pt 5 36\n39 Notice of protection of ticketing arrangements 36\n40 Offence—ticket-scalping 37\n41 Offence—unauthorised use of ticket for financial benefit 37\nPart 6 Authorised people\nDivision 6.1 Authorised people—appointment\n42 Appointment of authorised people 39\n43 Identity cards 40\n44 Offences—authorised person must show identity card 41\nDivision 6.2 Powers of authorised people\n45 Definition—div 6.2 42\n46 Power to enter premises 43\n47 Production of identity card 43\n48 Consent to entry 44\n49 General powers on entry to premises 45\n50 Police officer may seize things 46\nDivision 6.3 Return and forfeiture of things seized\n51 Application—div 6.3 47\n52 Receipt for things seized 47\n53 Access to things seized 48\n54 Return of things seized 48\n55 Forfeiture of things seized 49\n56 Power to destroy unsafe thing 49\n57 Application for order disallowing seizure 50\n58 Order for return of seized thing 51\nDivision 6.4 Enforcement—miscellaneous\n59 Damage etc to be minimised 52\n\nContents\nPage\ncontents 4 Major Events Act 2014\nEffective: 23/02/26\nR8\n23/02/26\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nPart 7 Miscellaneous\nDivision 7.1 Surrendered or confiscated prohibited items\n60 Definitions—div 7.1 53\n61 Retention and return of certain prohibited items 54\n62 Storage and disposal of returnable items 55\nDivision 7.2 Other matters\n63 Obligations of ticket sellers 55\n64 Compensation for exercise of search and enforcement powers 56\n65 Effect of disallowance of disallowable instrument 56\n66 Approved forms 57\n67 Regulation-making power 57\nDictionary 58\nEndnotes\n1 About the endnotes 61\n2 Abbreviation key 61\n3 Legislation history 62\n4 Amendment history 64\n5 Earlier republications 65\n\nR8\n23/02/26\nMajor Events Act 2014\nEffective: 23/02/26\npage 1\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nAustralian Capital Territory\nMajor Events Act 2014\nAn Act relating to the management of major events\n\nPart 1 Preliminary\nSection 1\npage 2 Major Events Act 2014\nEffective: 23/02/26\nR8\n23/02/26\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nPart 1 Preliminary\n1 Name of Act\nThis Act is the Major Events Act 2014.\n3 Dictionary\nThe dictionary at the end of this Act is part of this Act.\nNote 1 The dictionary at the end of this Act defines certain terms used in this\nAct, and includes references (signpost definitions) to other terms defined\nelsewhere in this Act.\nFor example, the signpost definition ‘advertise, for division 4.2\n(Clean zones)—see section 31.’ means that the term ‘advertise’ is defined\nin that section for division 4.2.\nNote 2 A definition in the dictionary (including a signpost definition) applies to\nthe entire Act unless the definition, or another provision of the Act,\nprovides otherwise or the contrary intention otherwise appears\n(see Legislation Act, s 155 and s 156 (1)).\n4 Notes\nA note included in this Act is explanatory and is not part of this Act.\nNote See the Legislation Act, s 127 (1), (4) and (5) for the legal status of notes.\n\nPreliminary Part 1\nSection 5\nR8\n23/02/26\nMajor Events Act 2014\nEffective: 23/02/26\npage 3\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n5 Offences against Act—application of Criminal Code etc\nOther legislation applies in relation to offences against this Act.\nNote 1 Criminal Code\nThe Criminal Code, ch 2 applies to all offences against this Act\n(see Code, pt 2.1).\nThe chapter sets out the general principles of criminal responsibility\n(including burdens of proof and general defences), and defines terms used\nfor offences to which the Code applies (eg conduct, intention,\nrecklessness and strict liability).\nNote 2 Penalty units\nThe Legislation Act, s 133 deals with the meaning of offence penalties\nthat are expressed in penalty units.\n\nPart 2 Major events and important sporting events\nDivision 2.1 Major event declaration\nSection 6\npage 4 Major Events Act 2014\nEffective: 23/02/26\nR8\n23/02/26\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nPart 2 Major events and important\nsporting events\nDivision 2.1 Major event declaration\n6 Major event—declaration\n(1) The Executive may, not later than 28 days before the proposed date\nof an event, declare the event to be a major event (a major event\ndeclaration).\n(2) The Executive may only make a major event declaration in relation\nto an event if satisfied—\n(a) that the event is a major event at an international, national, State\nor Territory level; and\n(b) it is in the public interest to do so; and\n(c) on reasonable grounds it is necessary and appropriate to do so.\n(3) In deciding whether to make a major event declaration, the Executive\nmust consider whether the event will do any of the following:\n(a) generate significant tourism opportunities for the ACT by\nattracting a large number of international participants or\nspectators;\n(b) significantly raise the ACT’s international profile;\n(c) require a high level of professional management and\ncoordination;\n(d) attract significant sponsorship and media coverage;\n(e) attract large numbers of people as participants or spectators;\n(f) offer substantial cultural, economic, social, sporting or other\nbenefits for the ACT and ACT residents.\n\nMajor events and important sporting events Part 2\nMajor event declaration Division 2.1\nSection 7\nR8\n23/02/26\nMajor Events Act 2014\nEffective: 23/02/26\npage 5\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n(4) The Executive may not declare a public protest or demonstration to\nbe a major event.\n(5) A major event declaration is a disallowable instrument.\n(6) The Executive must give additional public notice of the major event\ndeclaration.\nNote Public notice means notice on an ACT government website or in a daily\nnewspaper circulating in the ACT (see Legislation Act, dict, pt 1). The\nrequirement in s (6) is in addition to the requirement for notification on\nthe legislation register as a disallowable instrument.\n(7) Failure to publish a declaration in accordance with subsection (6)\ndoes not affect the validity of the declaration.\n7 Major event—declaration requirements\n(1) A major event declaration for an event must—\n(a) describe the event; and\n(b) state the organiser of the event; and\n(c) state the proposed time and date of the event; and\n(d) state the location of the venue for the event; and\n(e) state the period for which the declaration is in force; and\n(f) state that a notice may be given under the following provisions\nfor the event:\n(i) section 26 (Notice of protected symbol);\n(ii) section 32 (Notice of clean zone);\n(iii) section 39 (Notice of protection of ticketing arrangements);\nand\n(g) state anything else prescribed by regulation.\n\nPart 2 Major events and important sporting events\nDivision 2.1 Major event declaration\nSection 8\npage 6 Major Events Act 2014\nEffective: 23/02/26\nR8\n23/02/26\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n(2) A major event declaration for an event may state that a specified item\nis a prohibited item for section 12 (1), definition of prohibited item,\nparagraph (b) if the Executive considers—\n(a) the item could be—\n(i) used to interfere with the event; or\n(ii) a risk to public safety; and\n(b) it reasonable in the circumstances.\nNote A major event declaration for an event may also exclude an item\nmentioned in s 12 (1), def prohibited item, par (a).\n8 Major event declaration—variation\n(1) The Minister may, not later than 7 days before the proposed date of a\nmajor event, vary the major event declaration for the event in relation\nto any of the matters mentioned in section 7.\n(2) The Minister may only vary a major event declaration for a major\nevent if satisfied on reasonable grounds that the variation is necessary\nand appropriate for—\n(a) the good management of the event; or\n(b) the safety and enjoyment of people at the event.\nExample\nThe ACT is hosting a conference that will be attended by a number of leaders from\nother countries. The major event venue, as described in the major event declaration\nfor the event, includes the route from Canberra airport to the conference venue.\nAfter an updated security assessment, the route needs to be changed to ensure the\nsafety of the conference participants.\n(3) A variation is a disallowable instrument.\n\nMajor events and important sporting events Part 2\nImportant sporting event notice Division 2.2\nSection 9\nR8\n23/02/26\nMajor Events Act 2014\nEffective: 23/02/26\npage 7\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n(4) The Minister must give additional public notice of the major event\ndeclaration variation.\nNote Public notice means notice on an ACT government website or in a daily\nnewspaper circulating in the ACT (see Legislation Act, dict, pt 1). The\nrequirement in s (4) is in addition to the requirement for notification on\nthe legislation register as a disallowable instrument.\n(5) Failure to publish a variation in accordance with subsection (4) does\nnot affect the validity of the variation.\nDivision 2.2 Important sporting event notice\n9 Important sporting event—notice\n(1) For part 3 (Crowd management), the Minister may, not later than\n7 days before the proposed date of a sporting event, give notice that\nthe event is an important sporting event (an important sporting event\nnotice).\nNote Pt 4 (Protection of commercial arrangements) and pt 5 (Protection of\nticketing arrangements) do not apply to an important sporting event.\n(2) The Minister may only give an important sporting event notice in\nrelation to an event if satisfied on reasonable grounds that its making\nis necessary and appropriate for—\n(a) the safety of people attending the event; and\n(b) the avoidance of disruptions to the event.\n(3) In deciding whether to make an important sporting event notice, the\nMinister must consider—\n(a) the nature of the event; and\n(b) the number of people expected to attend the event; and\n(c) any other relevant matter.\n(4) A notice is a disallowable instrument.\n\nPart 2 Major events and important sporting events\nDivision 2.2 Important sporting event notice\nSection 10\npage 8 Major Events Act 2014\nEffective: 23/02/26\nR8\n23/02/26\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n(5) The Minister must give additional public notice of the important\nsporting event notice.\nNote Public notice means notice on an ACT government website or in a daily\nnewspaper circulating in the ACT (see Legislation Act, dict, pt 1). The\nrequirement in s (5) is in addition to the requirement for notification on\nthe legislation register as a disallowable instrument.\n(6) Failure to publish a notice in accordance with subsection (5) does not\naffect the validity of the notice.\n10 Important sporting event notice—requirements\n(1) An important sporting event notice for a sporting event must—\n(a) describe the event; and\n(b) state the organiser of the event; and\n(c) state the proposed time and date of the event; and\n(d) state the location of the venue for the event; and\n(e) state the period for which the notice is in force.\n(2) An important sporting event notice for a sporting event may state that\na specified item is a prohibited item for section 12 (1), definition of\nprohibited item, paragraph (b) if the Minister considers—\n(a) the item could be—\n(i) used to interfere with the event; or\n(ii) a risk to public safety; and\n(b) it reasonable in the circumstances.\nNote An important sporting event notice for an event may also exclude an item\nmentioned in s 12 (1), def prohibited item, par (a).\n\nCrowd management Part 3\nApplication—pt 3 Division 3.1\nSection 11\nR8\n23/02/26\nMajor Events Act 2014\nEffective: 23/02/26\npage 9\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nPart 3 Crowd management\nDivision 3.1 Application—pt 3\n11 Application—pt 3\nThis part (other than section 24 (Offence—ban orders)) applies to—\n(a) a major event—for the major event declaration period; and\n(b) an important sporting event—for the important sporting event\nnotice period.\nDivision 3.2 Crowd management\n12 Meaning of prohibited item\n(1) In this Act:\nprohibited item, for a major event or important sporting event,\nmeans—\n(a) unless excluded by the major event declaration for the major\nevent or the important sporting event notice for the important\nsporting event, the following:\n(i) a prohibited weapon or prohibited article;\n(ii) a knife;\n(iii) a dangerous good;\n(iv) a hazardous chemical or explosive;\n(v) a flare, firework, smoke bomb or petrol;\n(vi) a drug of dependence or prohibited substance;\n(vii) a fire extinguisher;\n(viii) alcohol;\n\nPart 3 Crowd management\nDivision 3.2 Crowd management\nSection 12\npage 10 Major Events Act 2014\nEffective: 23/02/26\nR8\n23/02/26\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n(ix) paint stored in a container of any kind;\n(x) a loud hailer, megaphone or any other device that can\namplify the human voice;\n(xi) broadcast equipment or any device that may interfere with\nbroadcast equipment authorised by the event organiser to\nbe used in the event venue;\n(xii) a whistle, horn or bugle or a similar thing likely to be used\nto interfere with the event;\n(xiii) a flag that is longer or wider than 900mm;\n(xiv) a flagpole that is longer than 1m;\n(xv) an egg, ball, paint bomb or a thing likely to be intended for\nuse as a projectile;\n(xvi) a glass item (other than optical lenses, or an infant’s food\nor drink container) that could be—\n(A) used to interfere with the event; or\n(B) a risk to public safety;\n(xvii) a metal can (other than an infant’s food or drink container)\nthat could be—\n(A) used to interfere with the event; or\n(B) a risk to public safety;\n(xviii) an animal, other than—\n(A) if a person is accompanied by an assistance animal—\nthe animal; or\n(B) a police dog, police horse or other animal used for the\nmanagement of the event; or\n(C) an animal competing or participating in the event;\n\nCrowd management Part 3\nCrowd management Division 3.2\nSection 12\nR8\n23/02/26\nMajor Events Act 2014\nEffective: 23/02/26\npage 11\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n(xix) a bicycle, scooter, skateboard, roller skates, roller blades or\nsimilar wheeled device, other than a wheeled device used\nby—\n(A) a person with disability for mobility; or\n(B) a police officer or another person for the management\nof the event; or\n(C) a person competing or participating in the event; and\n(b) anything else stated in the major event declaration for the major\nevent or the important sporting event notice for the important\nsporting event.\nNote A major event declaration or important sporting event notice may state\nthat an item is a prohibited item if it is considered it could be used to\ninterfere with a major event or important sporting event or be a risk to\npublic safety, and it is reasonable in the circumstances.\n(2) In this section:\naccompanied by an assistance animal—a person is accompanied by\nan assistance animal if the person—\n(a) is a person with disability and is accompanied by an assistance\nanimal that is assisting the person to alleviate the effect of the\ndisability; or\n(b) is an assistance animal trainer and is accompanied by an animal\nthat is being trained as an assistance animal; or\n(c) is an assistance animal assessor and is accompanied by an\nanimal that is being assessed as an assistance animal.\nassistance animal—see the Discrimination Act 1991,\nsection 5AA (3).\nassistance animal assessor—see the Domestic Animals Act 2000,\nsection 94.\n\nPart 3 Crowd management\nDivision 3.2 Crowd management\nSection 13\npage 12 Major Events Act 2014\nEffective: 23/02/26\nR8\n23/02/26\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nassistance animal trainer—see the Domestic Animals Act 2000,\nsection 94.\ndrug of dependence—see the Drugs of Dependence Act 1989,\ndictionary.\nexplosive—see the Dangerous Substances Act 2004, section 73.\nfirearm—see the Firearms Act 1996, section 6.\nhazardous chemical—see the Work Health and Safety\nRegulation 2011, dictionary.\nknife—see the Crimes Act 1900, dictionary.\nprohibited article—see the Prohibited Weapons Act 1996,\nsection 4B.\nprohibited substance—see the Drugs of Dependence Act 1989,\ndictionary.\nprohibited weapon—see the Prohibited Weapons Act 1996,\nsection 4A.\n13 Offences—unauthorised entry to event venue\n(1) A person commits an offence if—\n(a) the person goes into, or stays in, a part of an event venue; and\n(b) the person does not have the permission of the event organiser\nor venue manager to go into, or stay in, that part of the venue.\nMaximum penalty: 5 penalty units.\n(2) A person commits an offence if—\n(a) the person goes onto, or stays on, the playing surface at an event\nvenue; and\n(b) the person does not have the permission of the event organiser\nor venue manager to go onto, or stay on, the playing surface.\nMaximum penalty: 50 penalty units.\n\nCrowd management Part 3\nCrowd management Division 3.2\nSection 14\nR8\n23/02/26\nMajor Events Act 2014\nEffective: 23/02/26\npage 13\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n(3) An offence against subsection (2) is a strict liability offence.\n(4) For this section, a person is taken to have the permission of the event\norganiser or venue manager to go into, or stay in, a part of an event\nvenue or go onto, or stay on, the playing surface of an event venue if\nthe person is—\n(a) an authorised person; or\n(b) competing or participating in the major event or important\nsporting event in the event venue.\n(5) In this section:\nplaying surface, at an event venue—\n(a) means the area on which a sport is to be, or is being, played as\npart of the major event or important sporting event; and\n(b) includes—\n(i) any adjacent area required for the sport to be played; and\n(ii) any area reasonably incidental to the sport being played.\nExamples—par (b) (ii)\n• players’ dressing room\n• other field in the venue used by the players for warming up\n14 Offence—interference with event\n(1) A person commits an offence if, in an event venue, the person—\n(a) engages in violent or disorderly behaviour; or\n(b) disrupts, interferes with, delays or obstructs the conduct of the\nevent, or an activity associated with the event; or\n\nPart 3 Crowd management\nDivision 3.2 Crowd management\nSection 15\npage 14 Major Events Act 2014\nEffective: 23/02/26\nR8\n23/02/26\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n(c) causes unreasonable disruption or unreasonable interference to\na spectator of the event or a person conducting or managing the\nevent or event venue.\nMaximum penalty: 15 penalty units.\nExamples—par (b)\n• throwing flares, fireworks, balls, bottles or other objects\n• damaging the playing surface of a sporting field\nExamples—par (c)\n• displaying a sign or gesturing in a way that is reasonably likely to agitate other\npeople\n• intentionally blocking the view of someone else\n(2) In this section:\nevent means—\n(a) a major event; or\n(b) an important sporting event.\n15 Offence—possessing prohibited item\n(1) A person commits an offence if the person—\n(a) is in an event venue; and\n(b) without the permission of the event organiser or venue\nmanager—\n(i) takes a prohibited item into the venue; or\n(ii) has a prohibited item in the venue.\nMaximum penalty: 25 penalty units.\n\nCrowd management Part 3\nCrowd management powers Division 3.3\nSection 16\nR8\n23/02/26\nMajor Events Act 2014\nEffective: 23/02/26\npage 15\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n(2) For subsection (1) (b), a person is taken to have the permission of the\nevent organiser or venue manager if the person takes a prohibited item\ninto a venue, or possesses a prohibited item in the venue, because the\nperson is—\n(a) exercising a function as an authorised person and the prohibited\nitem is required for the exercise of the function; or\n(b) competing or participating in a major event or important\nsporting event in the event venue and the prohibited item is\nrequired for the person to compete or participate in the event.\n(3) An offence against this section is a strict liability offence.\n(4) An authorised person may request the person to surrender the\nprohibited item.\n(5) If the person refuses to comply with the request, a police officer may\nconfiscate the prohibited item.\nNote 1 An authorised person may direct the person to leave the event venue for\nfailing to comply with the request (see s 22).\nNote 2 Div 7.1 provides for the retention, return and disposal of prohibited items\nsurrendered or confiscated under this section or seized under s 50\n(Police officer may seize things).\nDivision 3.3 Crowd management powers\n16 Offence—authorised person may search personal\nproperty\n(1) An authorised person may ask a person to permit a search to be made\nof the person’s personal property if—\n(a) the person is entering (or about to enter) an event venue; or\n\nPart 3 Crowd management\nDivision 3.3 Crowd management powers\nSection 17\npage 16 Major Events Act 2014\nEffective: 23/02/26\nR8\n23/02/26\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n(b) the person is in an event venue.\nExample—about to enter\nstanding in a queue to enter a major event that extends outside the security gate of\nthe venue and onto the footpath\n(2) The person must permit the authorised person to search the person’s\npersonal property.\nMaximum penalty: 10 penalty units.\n(3) An offence against this section is a strict liability offence.\n(4) In this section:\npersonal property, of a person, means things carried by the person or\nthings apparently in the immediate control of the person, but does not\ninclude clothing being worn by the person.\n17 Offence—authorised person may do scanning search\n(1) An authorised person may ask a person to permit a scanning search\nof the person if—\n(a) the person is entering (or about to enter) an event venue; or\n(b) the person is in an event venue.\nExample—about to enter\nstanding in a queue to enter a major event that extends outside the security gate of\nthe venue and onto the footpath\n(2) The person must permit an authorised person to do a scanning search\nof the person.\nMaximum penalty: 10 penalty units.\n(3) An offence against this section is a strict liability offence.\n\nCrowd management Part 3\nCrowd management powers Division 3.3\nSection 18\nR8\n23/02/26\nMajor Events Act 2014\nEffective: 23/02/26\npage 17\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n(4) In this section:\nscanning search, of a person, means a search of the person by\nelectronic or other means that does not require the person to remove\nthe person’s clothing or to be touched by someone else.\nExamples\n1 passing a portable electronic or other device over a person\n2 requiring a person to pass by or through an electronic or other device\n18 Offence—police officer may do other searches\n(1) A police officer may ask a person to permit an ordinary search or frisk\nsearch of the person if—\n(a) the person is entering (or about to enter) an event venue; or\n(b) the person is in an event venue.\nExample—about to enter\nstanding in a queue to enter a major event that extends outside the security gate of\nthe venue and onto the footpath\n(2) The person must permit a police officer to do the search.\nMaximum penalty: 10 penalty units.\n(3) An offence against this section is a strict liability offence.\n(4) In this section:\nfrisk search, of a person, means—\n(a) a search of the person conducted by quickly running the hands\nover the person’s outer garments; and\n(b) an examination of anything worn or carried by the person that is\nconveniently and voluntarily removed by the person.\n\nPart 3 Crowd management\nDivision 3.3 Crowd management powers\nSection 19\npage 18 Major Events Act 2014\nEffective: 23/02/26\nR8\n23/02/26\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nordinary search, of a person, means a search of the person, or of the\nperson’s personal property, that may include—\n(a) requiring the person to remove the person’s overcoat, coat or\njacket and any gloves, shoes or hat; and\n(b) an examination of those items or personal property.\npersonal property, of a person—see section 16 (4).\n19 Scanning, ordinary and frisk searches—requirements\n(1) A police officer may conduct a scanning search, ordinary search or\nfrisk search of a person under section 17 or section 18 only if—\n(a) the officer is of the same sex as the person to be searched; or\n(b) if that is not practicable—another person of the same sex as,\nor a sex nominated by, the person to be searched is present while\nthe search is conducted.\n(2) If asked by the person to be searched and it is practicable to do so,\na police officer must take the person to a less public place in or near\nthe event venue so that the search can be conducted.\n(3) As soon as possible after conducting a frisk search under section 18,\nthe police officer must make a written record of—\n(a) the date, time and place of the search; and\n(b) details of the search; and\n(c) any details of the person who was searched known to the police\nofficer.\n(4) In exercising a power under section 18 in relation to a person, a police\nofficer must not detain the person for longer than is reasonably\nnecessary to conduct a search of the person.\n\nCrowd management Part 3\nCrowd management powers Division 3.3\nSection 20\nR8\n23/02/26\nMajor Events Act 2014\nEffective: 23/02/26\npage 19\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n20 Offence—police officer may ask for person’s name and\naddress\n(1) A police officer may request a person entering (or about to enter)\nan event venue to state the person’s name and home address.\nExamples—about to enter\n1 standing in a queue to enter a major event that extends outside the security\ngate of the venue and onto the footpath\n2 for a major event venue that includes a car park outside the event venue—\nsitting in a car that is in a queue of cars to enter the car park for the major event\nwhere the queue extends outside the major event venue\n(2) The person must—\n(a) comply with the request; or\n(b) not enter, or attempt to enter, the event venue within 24 hours\nafter the time the request is made.\nMaximum penalty: 5 penalty units.\n(3) An offence against this section is a strict liability offence.\n21 Authorised person may refuse entry\nAn authorised person may refuse a person entry to an event venue if\nthe authorised person believes on reasonable grounds that the\nperson—\n(a) has committed, or is likely to commit, an offence against—\n(i) this Act; or\n(ii) while seeking to enter into or while in the venue—\nanother law applying in the ACT; or\n(b) is likely to contravene a condition of entry to the event venue\nimposed by an event organiser or a venue manager for the event.\n\nPart 3 Crowd management\nDivision 3.3 Crowd management powers\nSection 22\npage 20 Major Events Act 2014\nEffective: 23/02/26\nR8\n23/02/26\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n22 Authorised person may give direction\n(1) An authorised person may—\n(a) direct a person to leave an event venue and not re-enter the\nvenue for a period of 24 hours if—\n(i) the authorised person believes on reasonable grounds that\nthe person has committed, or is likely to commit,\nan offence against—\n(A) this Act; or\n(B) while attempting to enter into or while in the venue—\nanother law applying in the ACT; and\n(ii) the following happened:\n(A) the authorised person has, before giving the direction,\nasked the person to leave the event venue and not\nre-enter the venue for a period of 24 hours;\n(B) the person has refused to leave, has entered or\nattempted to enter the venue; or\n(b) give a direction reasonably necessary for—\n(i) the good management of an event; or\n(ii) the safety and enjoyment of people at an event.\nExamples—par (b)\na direction to a person to—\n• move from stairs, aisles, passageways or bridges\n• stop standing in a place that blocks the view of another person seated\n• stop climbing on a tree, roof, fence, barrier or barricade\n(2) A direction under subsection (1) (a)—\n(a) must state that the direction applies for 24 hours; and\n(b) may be given orally or in writing.\n\nCrowd management Part 3\nCrowd management powers Division 3.3\nSection 23\nR8\n23/02/26\nMajor Events Act 2014\nEffective: 23/02/26\npage 21\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n(3) In this section:\nevent means—\n(a) a major event; or\n(b) an important sporting event.\n23 Offences—failure to comply with direction\n(1) A person commits an offence if the person—\n(a) is given a direction under section 22; and\n(b) fails to comply with the direction.\nMaximum penalty: 10 penalty units.\nNote Fail includes refuse (see Legislation Act, dict, pt 1).\n(2) A person commits an offence if the person—\n(a) is given a direction to leave an event venue under\nsection 22 (1) (a); and\n(b) enters, or attempts to enter, the venue within 24 hours after the\ntime the direction is given.\nMaximum penalty: 20 penalty units.\n(3) If a person commits an offence under subsection (1) or (2), a police\nofficer may use such force as is reasonably necessary to—\n(a) apprehend and detain the person; or\n(b) remove the person from, or stop the person from re-entering, the\nevent venue.\n(4) A police officer exercising powers under subsection (3) may act with\nsuch assistance as is reasonably necessary from an authorised person\nappointed under section 42.\n(5) A person must not be detained under subsection (3) (a) for longer than\nis reasonably necessary to remove the person from the event venue.\n\nPart 3 Crowd management\nDivision 3.3 Crowd management powers\nSection 24\npage 22 Major Events Act 2014\nEffective: 23/02/26\nR8\n23/02/26\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n24 Offence—ban orders\n(1) This section applies if a person (an offender)—\n(a) has been convicted or found guilty of a ban order offence; or\n(b) is banned from a place under a corresponding law; or\n(c) has been convicted or found guilty of a corresponding ban order\noffence.\n(2) An interested person may apply to the Magistrates Court for 1 or more\nof the following orders:\n(a) an order banning the offender from entering a stated event venue\nor future venue (or stated part of the venue) for the crowd\nmanagement period for the relevant event;\n(b) an order banning the offender from attending a stated part of a\nstated—\n(i) major event; or\n(ii) important sporting event; or\n(iii) future event.\n(3) The interested person must give notice of the application to the\noffender.\n(4) The court may make the order if satisfied that—\n(a) there is a significant risk that the offender may disrupt a major\nevent, important sporting event or future event; and\n(b) making the order is likely to reduce the risk.\n(5) An order must be for a period not longer than 12 months.\n\nCrowd management Part 3\nCrowd management powers Division 3.3\nSection 24\nR8\n23/02/26\nMajor Events Act 2014\nEffective: 23/02/26\npage 23\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n(6) On application from the offender, the court must revoke an order\nunder this section if after the order was made—\n(a) if subsection (1) (a) applies to the offender—the offender\nsuccessfully appealed against the conviction for, or finding of\nguilt of, the ban order offence; or\n(b) if subsection (1) (b) applies to the offender—the order in the\nother jurisdiction is revoked.\n(7) An offender commits an offence if—\n(a) an order under this section applies to the offender; and\n(b) the offender enters an event venue in contravention of the order.\nMaximum penalty: 50 penalty units.\n(8) In this section:\nban order offence means an offence against—\n(a) the following provisions of this Act:\n(i) section 13 (Offences—unauthorised entry to event venue);\n(ii) section 14 (Offence—interference with event);\n(iii) section 15 (Offence—possessing prohibited item), if the\nprohibited item is an item mentioned in section 12 (1),\ndefinition of prohibited item, paragraph (a) (i) to (v);\n(iv) section 23 (Offences—failure to comply with direction); or\n(b) the following provisions of the Crimes Act 1900, committed by\nthe offender in an event venue during the crowd management\nperiod for the event:\n(i) section 19 (Intentionally inflicting grievous bodily harm);\n(ii) section 20 (Recklessly inflicting grievous bodily harm);\n(iii) section 21 (Wounding);\n\nPart 3 Crowd management\nDivision 3.3 Crowd management powers\nSection 24\npage 24 Major Events Act 2014\nEffective: 23/02/26\nR8\n23/02/26\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n(iv) section 22 (Assault with intent to commit other offence);\n(v) section 23 (Inflicting actual bodily harm);\n(vi) section 24 (Assault occasioning actual bodily harm);\n(vii) section 25 (Causing grievous bodily harm);\n(viii) section 26 (Common assault);\n(ix) section 27 (Acts endangering life etc);\n(x) section 28 (Acts endangering health etc);\n(xi) section 30 (Threat to kill);\n(xii) section 31 (Threat to inflict grievous bodily harm);\n(xiii) section 33 (Possession of object with intent to kill etc);\n(xiv) section 35A (Affray);\n(xv) section 116 (Destroying or damaging property);\n(xvi) section 391 (Fighting);\n(xvii) section 393 (Indecent exposure); or\n(c) the following provisions of the Liquor Act 2010, committed by\nthe offender in an event venue during the crowd management\nperiod for the event:\n(i) section 108 (Offence—abuse, threaten, intimidate staff);\n(ii) section 138 (Offence—remain in or re-enter vicinity of\npremises).\ncorresponding ban order offence means an offence under a law of\nanother Australian jurisdiction—\n(a) prescribed by regulation; or\n(b) that substantially corresponds to a ban order offence under this\nsection.\n\nCrowd management Part 3\nCrowd management powers Division 3.3\nSection 24\nR8\n23/02/26\nMajor Events Act 2014\nEffective: 23/02/26\npage 25\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\ncorresponding law means a law of another Australian jurisdiction—\n(a) prescribed by regulation; or\n(b) that substantially corresponds to this section.\ncrowd management period means—\n(a) for a major event—the major event declaration period; and\n(b) for an important sporting event—the important sporting event\nnotice period.\nfuture event means an event that is likely to be the subject of—\n(a) a declaration under section 6 (Major event—declaration); or\n(b) a notice under section 9 (Important sporting event—notice).\nfuture venue means a venue that is likely to be the subject of—\n(a) a declaration under section 6 (Major event—declaration); or\n(b) a notice under section 9 (Important sporting event—notice).\ninterested person means—\n(a) the chief police officer; or\n(b) an event organiser; or\n(c) a venue manager.\n\nPart 4 Protection of commercial arrangements\nDivision 4.1 Protected symbols\nSection 25\npage 26 Major Events Act 2014\nEffective: 23/02/26\nR8\n23/02/26\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nPart 4 Protection of commercial\narrangements\nDivision 4.1 Protected symbols\n25 Application—div 4.1\n(1) This division does not apply to a major event to the extent that the\nMajor Sporting Events (Indicia and Images) Protection Act 2014\n(Cwlth) applies to the event.\n(2) This division does not affect a right or remedy available to a person\nin relation to a symbol that is a protected symbol to the extent that the\nfollowing apply to the symbol:\n(a) the Copyright Act 1968 (Cwlth);\n(b) the Trade Marks Act 1995 (Cwlth);\n(c) the Designs Act 2003 (Cwlth);\n(d) the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cwlth).\n(3) This division does not affect a right or remedy available to a person\nbefore the commencement of a major event in relation to—\n(a) a business name registered under the Business Names\nRegistration Act 2011 (Cwlth) before the commencement of the\nmajor event; or\n(b) a company name registered under the Corporations Act before\nthe commencement of the major event.\n(4) This division does not affect a right or remedy available to a person\nbefore the commencement of a major event, in relation to preventing\nanother person from passing off goods, services or a business as the\ngoods, services or business of the first person.\n\nProtection of commercial arrangements Part 4\nProtected symbols Division 4.1\nSection 26\nR8\n23/02/26\nMajor Events Act 2014\nEffective: 23/02/26\npage 27\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n26 Notice of protected symbol\n(1) The Minister may give notice for a major event that a symbol is a\nprotected symbol.\n(2) The Minister may only give notice if satisfied—\n(a) that the symbol relates to, and is sufficiently connected to, the\nidentity and conduct of the major event; and\n(b) that the event organiser has commercial arrangements in relation\nto the event that are likely to be adversely affected by the\nunauthorised use of the symbol; and\n(c) on reasonable grounds it is necessary and appropriate to do so.\n(3) If notice is given for a major event, the Minister must state the period\nfor which the notice is in force (the protection period).\n(4) A notice is a notifiable instrument.\n(5) The Minister must give additional public notice of the notice under\nsubsection (4).\nNote Public notice means notice on an ACT government website or in a daily\nnewspaper circulating in the ACT (see Legislation Act, dict, pt 1). The\nrequirement in s (5) is in addition to the requirement for notification on\nthe legislation register as a notifiable instrument.\n(6) Failure to publish a notice in accordance with subsection (5) does not\naffect the validity of the notice.\n(7) In this section:\nsymbol—\n(a) means any design, emblem, image, logo, mascot, mark or word;\nand\n(b) includes any visual or aural representation of any part of those\nthings.\n\nPart 4 Protection of commercial arrangements\nDivision 4.1 Protected symbols\nSection 27\npage 28 Major Events Act 2014\nEffective: 23/02/26\nR8\n23/02/26\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n27 Offences—unauthorised use of protected symbol\n(1) A person commits an offence if—\n(a) the person uses a protected symbol in the protection period for a\nmajor event; and\n(b) the use is for a commercial purpose; and\n(c) the person does not have the written permission of the event\norganiser for the event to do so.\nMaximum penalty: 300 penalty units.\n(2) A person commits an offence if—\n(a) the person is a secondary user of a protected symbol in the\nprotection period for a major event; and\n(b) the secondary use is for a commercial purpose; and\n(c) the person does not have the written permission of the event\norganiser for the event to do so.\nMaximum penalty: 200 penalty units.\n(3) In this section:\nprotected symbol—\n(a) means a symbol the subject of a notice under section 26 (1); and\n(b) includes anything that so closely resembles the symbol that a\nreasonable person is likely to mistake it for the symbol.\nprotection period—see section 26 (3).\nsecondary user—see section 28 (2).\n\nProtection of commercial arrangements Part 4\nProtected symbols Division 4.1\nSection 28\nR8\n23/02/26\nMajor Events Act 2014\nEffective: 23/02/26\npage 29\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n28 When protected symbol is used for a commercial\npurpose—pt 4\n(1) For this part, a person (a user) uses a protected symbol for a major\nevent for a commercial purpose, if—\n(a) the user applies the protected symbol to the user’s goods or\nservices; and\n(b) the application is for the primary purpose of advertising or\npromoting, or enhancing the demand for, the goods or services;\nand\n(c) the application would suggest, to a reasonable person, that the\nuser is or was a sponsor of, or is or was a provider of other\nsupport for—\n(i) the major event; or\n(ii) any other event arranged by the event organiser for the\nmajor event in connection with the major event.\nNote Par (c) is affected by s 29.\n(2) Also, a person (a secondary user) uses a protected symbol for a major\nevent for a commercial purpose if—\n(a) another person has used the event’s symbol for a commercial\npurpose in relation to goods or services; and\n(b) the other person is not authorised in writing by the event\norganiser for the event to use the protected symbol for a\ncommercial purpose; and\n(c) any of the following applies:\n(i) for goods and services—the secondary user supplies, or\noffers to supply, the goods or services;\n\nPart 4 Protection of commercial arrangements\nDivision 4.1 Protected symbols\nSection 29\npage 30 Major Events Act 2014\nEffective: 23/02/26\nR8\n23/02/26\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n(ii) for goods—the secondary user—\n(A) exposes the goods for supply by the secondary user;\nor\n(B) keeps the goods for supply by the secondary user or\nby another person.\n(3) In this section:\nsupply, of goods or services, includes—\n(a) for goods—supply (including resupply) by sale, exchange,\nlease, hire or hire-purchase; and\n(b) for services—provide, grant or confer.\n29 Presumption etc relating to advertising or promotion etc\nFor section 28 (1) (c)—\n(a) the application of a protected symbol by a person for the primary\npurpose of advertising or promoting, or enhancing the demand\nfor, the goods or services, is on the face of it enough to suggest\nthe existence of a sponsorship arrangement, or the provision of\nsupport; and\n(b) doing any of the following is not alone enough to suggest the\nexistence of a sponsorship arrangement, or the provision of other\nsupport:\n(i) using a protected symbol for the primary purpose of\ncriticism or review;\n(ii) using a protected symbol for the primary purpose of\nproviding information, including through reporting news\nand presenting current affairs.\n\nProtection of commercial arrangements Part 4\nClean zones Division 4.2\nSection 30\nR8\n23/02/26\nMajor Events Act 2014\nEffective: 23/02/26\npage 31\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nDivision 4.2 Clean zones\n30 Application—div 4.2\n(1) This division applies to a major event for the protection period for the\nevent.\n(2) In this section:\nprotection period—see section 32 (1).\n31 Definitions—div 4.2\n(1) In this division:\nadvertise means any form of communication (including selling or\ngiving away goods or services) made to the public or a section of the\npublic in relation to any—\n(a) goods or services; or\n(b) brand of goods or services; or\n(c) person who provides goods or services.\nclean zone, for a major event, means the location stated in the notice\nunder section 32 (1) for the event.\n(2) For this division, a person advertises if the person—\n(a) pays for, commissions, or authorises the advertisement; or\n(b) receives consideration for the placement or location of the\nadvertisement.\n\nPart 4 Protection of commercial arrangements\nDivision 4.2 Clean zones\nSection 32\npage 32 Major Events Act 2014\nEffective: 23/02/26\nR8\n23/02/26\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n32 Notice of clean zone\n(1) The Minister may give notice for a major event that a location is a\nclean zone for a stated period (the protection period).\n(2) The Minister may only give notice in relation to a major event if\nsatisfied—\n(a) that the event organiser has commercial arrangements in relation\nto the event that are likely to be adversely affected by\nunauthorised advertising in or near the clean zone; and\n(b) on reasonable grounds it is necessary and appropriate to do so.\n(3) A notice is a notifiable instrument.\n(4) The Minister must give additional public notice of the notice under\nsubsection (3).\nNote Public notice means notice on an ACT government website or in a daily\nnewspaper circulating in the ACT (see Legislation Act, dict, pt 1). The\nrequirement in s (4) is in addition to the requirement for notification on\nthe legislation register as a notifiable instrument.\n(5) Failure to publish a notice in accordance with subsection (4) does not\naffect the validity of the notice.\n33 Offences—unauthorised street trading in or adjacent to\nclean zone\n(1) A person commits an offence if the person—\n(a) street trades in a clean zone for a major event; and\n(b) does not have the written permission of the event organiser for\nthe event to do so.\nMaximum penalty: 300 penalty units.\n\nProtection of commercial arrangements Part 4\nClean zones Division 4.2\nSection 34\nR8\n23/02/26\nMajor Events Act 2014\nEffective: 23/02/26\npage 33\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n(2) A person commits an offence if the person—\n(a) street trades in an area adjacent to a clean zone for a major event\nto a person in the clean zone; and\n(b) does not have the written permission of the event organiser for\nthe event to do so.\nMaximum penalty: 200 penalty units.\n(3) In this section:\nstreet trade—\n(a) means sell or give away goods or services; but\n(b) does not include operating an existing business out of existing\npermanent premises of the business.\n34 Offence—unauthorised advertising in clean zone\nA person commits an offence if the person—\n(a) advertises in a clean zone for a major event; and\n(b) does not have the written permission of the event organiser for\nthe event to do so.\nMaximum penalty: 300 penalty units.\n35 Offence—unauthorised advertising that is clearly visible\nfrom clean zone\n(1) A person commits an offence if the person—\n(a) advertises; and\n(b) the advertising is clearly visible from a place within the clean\nzone for the event; and\n\nPart 4 Protection of commercial arrangements\nDivision 4.2 Clean zones\nSection 36\npage 34 Major Events Act 2014\nEffective: 23/02/26\nR8\n23/02/26\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n(c) does not have the written permission of the event organiser for\nthe event to do so.\nMaximum penalty: 250 penalty units.\n(2) For this section, advertising is clearly visible from a place within the\nclean zone for a major event if the advertising could be seen by a\nperson in the clean zone without the person using visual apparatus\nother than contact lenses or glasses.\n36 Exceptions—s 34 and s 35 offences\nSection 34 and section 35 do not apply to advertising—\n(a) if, in accordance with honest practices in industrial or\ncommercial matters, the advertising is done by an existing\norganisation continuing to carry out its ordinary activities; or\nExample\nAn existing business operates from premises within a clean zone. The\nbusiness ordinarily advertises with signs on the outside of the building and in\nthe front window. Section 34 and s 35 will not apply to an existing business\nthat continues to advertise in the ordinary way.\n(b) on clothing (including shoes) or other personal items being\nworn, carried, or used by—\n(i) a member of the public, unless that item is being worn,\ncarried, or used in co-ordination with other people with the\nintention that the advertising intrude on—\n(A) an activity that is part of the major event; or\n(B) the attention of a person attending or watching the\nmajor event; or\n(ii) a person competing or participating in a major event; or\n(iii) a volunteer engaged in the management or conduct of an\nactivity that is part of the major event; or\n\nProtection of commercial arrangements Part 4\nClean zones Division 4.2\nSection 37\nR8\n23/02/26\nMajor Events Act 2014\nEffective: 23/02/26\npage 35\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n(c) in a newspaper or magazine, or on a television, radio, or\nelectronic device, being used for personal use, unless it is being\nused with the intention that the advertising intrude on—\n(i) an activity that is part of the major event; or\n(ii) the attention of a person attending or watching the major\nevent; or\n(d) on a train, boat or other vehicle, provided that the vehicle is\nbeing used to carry out its ordinary activities in its usual manner;\nor\n(e) for an aircraft—\n(i) to the normal markings on the aircraft; or\n(ii) if the aircraft is used in an emergency or for, or in, the\nprovision of emergency services.\nNote The defendant has an evidential burden in relation to the matters\nmentioned in this section (see Criminal Code, s 58).\n37 Defences—s 34 and s 35 offences\nIt is a defence to a prosecution for an offence against section 34 and\nsection 35, in relation to an advertisement, if the defendant proves\nthat—\n(a) the defendant’s business includes publishing or arranging for the\npublication of advertisements; and\n(b) the defendant—\n(i) received the advertisement in the ordinary course of the\nbusiness; and\n(ii) did not know, and had no reason to believe, that publishing\nit would be an offence against section 34 or section 35.\n\nPart 5 Protection of ticketing arrangements\nSection 38\npage 36 Major Events Act 2014\nEffective: 23/02/26\nR8\n23/02/26\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nPart 5 Protection of ticketing\narrangements\n38 Definitions—pt 5\nIn this part:\noriginal sale price, of a ticket, includes charges necessary to effect\nthe sale or trade of the ticket.\nExamples—charges\n• booking fee\n• credit card charge\n• delivery fee\nticket, to a major event, includes a ticket to an activity that is part of\nthe event.\n39 Notice of protection of ticketing arrangements\n(1) The Minister may give notice for a major event that this part applies\nto the event.\n(2) The Minister may only give notice in relation to a major event if the\nMinister—\n(a) consults with the event organiser for the major event; and\n(b) considers any submissions made by the event organiser about\nthe need for this part to apply to the major event; and\n(c) considers the likely demand by the public for tickets to the event;\nand\n(d) considers the availability to the public of tickets to the event;\nand\n(e) is satisfied on reasonable grounds it is necessary and appropriate\nto do so.\n\nProtection of ticketing arrangements Part 5\nSection 40\nR8\n23/02/26\nMajor Events Act 2014\nEffective: 23/02/26\npage 37\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n(3) A notice is a notifiable instrument.\n(4) The Minister must give additional public notice of the notice under\nsubsection (3).\nNote Public notice means notice on an ACT government website or in a daily\nnewspaper circulating in the ACT (see Legislation Act, dict, pt 1). The\nrequirement in s (4) is in addition to the requirement for notification on\nthe legislation register as a notifiable instrument.\n(5) Failure to publish a notice in accordance with subsection (4) does not\naffect the validity of the notice.\n40 Offence—ticket-scalping\n(1) A person commits an offence if—\n(a) the person sells or trades a ticket to a major event; and\n(b) the value of the ticket is more than the original sale price of the\nticket; and\n(c) the person does not have the written permission of the event\norganiser to do so.\nMaximum penalty: 30 penalty units.\n(2) In this section:\nsell or trade, a ticket, includes any form of transaction in which a\nsubstantial purpose of the transaction is the sale or trade of the ticket\nfor a value more than the original sale price of the ticket.\n41 Offence—unauthorised use of ticket for financial benefit\n(1) A person commits an offence if—\n(a) the person uses a ticket to a major event for a substantial purpose\nof—\n(i) receiving a financial benefit; or\n\nPart 5 Protection of ticketing arrangements\nSection 41\npage 38 Major Events Act 2014\nEffective: 23/02/26\nR8\n23/02/26\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n(ii) giving a financial benefit to a party related to the person;\nand\n(b) the person is not authorised in writing by the event organiser to\ndo so.\nMaximum penalty: 30 penalty units.\n(2) This section does not apply to a person who—\n(a) has bought or is given a ticket to a major event for personal use;\nand\n(b) sells or trades the ticket for a value not more than the original\nsale price of the ticket.\n(3) In this section:\nfinancial benefit, in relation to the use of a ticket to a major event,\nmeans anything of economic value including publicity.\nExample—publicity\na radio station gives away free tickets on behalf of a sponsor to callers to the station\nuses, a ticket, includes—\n(a) giving the ticket away as a prize in a lottery or competition; or\n(b) including the ticket with the sale or trade of other goods or\nservices; or\nExample\na restaurant offers a dinner package that includes a free ticket to a major event\n(c) exchanging the ticket for the redemption of points in a customer\nloyalty scheme.\n\nAuthorised people Part 6\nAuthorised people—appointment Division 6.1\nSection 42\nR8\n23/02/26\nMajor Events Act 2014\nEffective: 23/02/26\npage 39\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nPart 6 Authorised people\nDivision 6.1 Authorised people—appointment\n42 Appointment of authorised people\n(1) The director-general may appoint a person as an authorised person\nfor this Act.\nNote 1 A police officer is also an authorised person (see dict, def authorised\nperson).\nNote 2 For the making of appointments (including acting appointments), see the\nLegislation Act, pt 19.3.\nNote 3 In particular, an appointment may be made by naming a person or\nnominating the occupant of a position (see Legislation Act, s 207).\n(2) The director-general may appoint a person as an authorised person\nonly if the director-general is satisfied the person—\n(a) holds a security licence; and\n(b) is, or will be, employed by a person holding a master licence\nunder the Security Industry Act 2003; and\n(c) has not—\n(i) committed an offence against this Act; or\n(ii) been convicted or found guilty of an offence involving\nfraud, dishonesty, violence, drugs or weapons; and\n(d) is capable of competently exercising the functions of an\nauthorised person for this Act.\n(3) The director-general may end the appointment of a person as an\nauthorised person if the person—\n(a) ceases to hold a security licence; or\n(b) is not employed by a person holding a master licence under the\nSecurity Industry Act 2003; or\n\nPart 6 Authorised people\nDivision 6.1 Authorised people—appointment\nSection 43\npage 40 Major Events Act 2014\nEffective: 23/02/26\nR8\n23/02/26\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n(c) commits an offence against this Act; or\n(d) has been convicted or found guilty of an offence involving\nfraud, dishonesty, violence, drugs or weapons; or\n(e) is not capable of competently exercising the functions of an\nauthorised person for this Act.\nNote An authorised person’s appointment also ends if the person resigns (see\nLegislation Act, s 210).\n(4) In this section:\nsecurity licence means a licence under the Security Industry Act 2003\nthat authorises the licensee to carry out crowd control under\nsection 13 (1) (h) of that Act, whether or not it authorises the licensee\nto do anything else.\n43 Identity cards\n(1) This section applies in relation to an authorised person appointed\nunder section 42.\n(2) The director-general must give an authorised person an identity card\nstating the person’s name and that the person is an authorised person.\n(3) The identity card must show—\n(a) a recent photograph of the authorised person; and\n(b) the card’s date of issue and expiry; and\n(c) anything else prescribed by regulation.\n(4) A person commits an offence if the person—\n(a) stops being an authorised person; and\n\nAuthorised people Part 6\nAuthorised people—appointment Division 6.1\nSection 44\nR8\n23/02/26\nMajor Events Act 2014\nEffective: 23/02/26\npage 41\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n(b) does not return the person’s identity card to the director-general\nas soon as practicable (but not later than 7 days) after the day the\nperson stops being an authorised person.\nMaximum penalty: 1 penalty unit.\n(5) Subsection (4) does not apply to a person if the person’s identity card\nhas been—\n(a) lost or stolen; or\n(b) destroyed by someone else.\nNote The defendant has an evidential burden in relation to the matters\nmentioned in s (5) (see Criminal Code, s 58).\n(6) An offence against this section is a strict liability offence.\n44 Offences—authorised person must show identity card\n(1) This section applies in relation to an authorised person appointed\nunder section 42.\n(2) An authorised person commits an offence if the authorised person—\n(a) exercises a power under this Act in relation to a person; and\n(b) does not first show the person the authorised person’s identity\ncard.\nMaximum penalty: 10 penalty units.\n(3) An authorised person commits an offence if the authorised person—\n(a) is asked to show the authorised person’s identity card by—\n(i) a police officer; or\n(ii) an investigator; and\n(b) does not show the authorised person’s identity card.\nMaximum penalty: 10 penalty units.\n(4) An offence against this section is a strict liability offence.\n\nPart 6 Authorised people\nDivision 6.2 Powers of authorised people\nSection 45\npage 42 Major Events Act 2014\nEffective: 23/02/26\nR8\n23/02/26\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n(5) This section does not apply to an authorised person if the authorised\nperson’s identity card is prominently displayed on the authorised\nperson’s body.\nNote The defendant has an evidential burden in relation to the matter\nmentioned in s (5) (see Criminal Code, s 58).\n(6) In this section:\ninvestigator—see the Fair Trading (Australian Consumer Law)\nAct 1992, dictionary.\nDivision 6.2 Powers of authorised people\n45 Definition—div 6.2\n(1) In this division:\npremises means only premises that the public is entitled to use or that\nare open to the public (whether or not on payment of money) and—\n(a) for an authorised person appointed under section 42—that are\nin—\n(i) a major event venue—for the major event declaration\nperiod; or\n(ii) an important sporting event venue—for the important\nsporting event notice period; or\n(b) for a police officer—that are in or near—\n(i) a major event venue—for the major event declaration\nperiod; or\n(ii) a clean zone—for the protection period; or\n(iii) an important sporting event venue—for the important\nsporting event notice period.\n(2) In this section:\nprotection period, in relation to a clean zone—see section 32 (1).\n\nAuthorised people Part 6\nPowers of authorised people Division 6.2\nSection 46\nR8\n23/02/26\nMajor Events Act 2014\nEffective: 23/02/26\npage 43\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n46 Power to enter premises\n(1) For this Act, an authorised person may—\n(a) at any time when the premises are open for business, enter the\npremises; or\n(b) at any reasonable time, enter premises with the occupier’s\nconsent.\n(2) However, subsection (1) does not authorise entry into a part of\npremises that is being used only for residential purposes.\n(3) An authorised person may, without the consent of the occupier of\npremises, enter land around the premises to ask for consent to enter\nthe premises.\n(4) To remove any doubt, an authorised person may enter premises under\nsubsection (1) without payment of an entry fee or other charge.\n(5) In this section:\nat any reasonable time includes at any time when the public is\nentitled to use the premises, or when the premises are open to or used\nby the public (whether or not on payment of money).\n47 Production of identity card\n(1) An authorised person appointed under section 42 must not remain at\npremises entered under this part if the authorised person does not\nproduce the person’s identity card when asked by the occupier.\n(2) A police officer must not remain at premises entered under this part\nif the officer does not produce evidence that the officer is a police\nofficer when asked by the occupier.\n\nPart 6 Authorised people\nDivision 6.2 Powers of authorised people\nSection 48\npage 44 Major Events Act 2014\nEffective: 23/02/26\nR8\n23/02/26\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n48 Consent to entry\n(1) When seeking the consent of an occupier of premises to enter\npremises under section 46 (1) (b), an authorised person must—\n(a) either—\n(i) for an authorised person appointed under section 42—\nproduce the person’s identity card; or\n(ii) for a police officer—produce evidence that the person is a\npolice officer; and\n(b) tell the occupier—\n(i) the purpose of the entry; and\n(ii) that anything found and seized under this part may be used\nin evidence in court; and\n(iii) that consent may be refused.\n(2) If the occupier consents, the authorised person must ask the occupier\nto sign a written acknowledgment (an acknowledgment of\nconsent)—\n(a) that the occupier was told—\n(i) the purpose of the entry; and\n(ii) that anything found and seized under this part may be used\nin evidence in court; and\n(iii) that consent may be refused; and\n(b) that the occupier consented to the entry; and\n(c) stating the time and date when consent was given.\n(3) If the occupier signs an acknowledgment of consent, the authorised\nperson must immediately give a copy to the occupier.\nNote For how documents may be given, see the Legislation Act, pt 19.5.\n\nAuthorised people Part 6\nPowers of authorised people Division 6.2\nSection 49\nR8\n23/02/26\nMajor Events Act 2014\nEffective: 23/02/26\npage 45\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n(4) A court must find that the occupier did not consent to entry to the\npremises by the authorised person under this part if—\n(a) the question arises in a proceeding in the court whether the\noccupier consented to the entry; and\n(b) an acknowledgment of consent is not produced in evidence; and\n(c) it is not proved that the occupier consented to the entry.\n49 General powers on entry to premises\n(1) An authorised person who enters premises under this part may, for\nthis Act, do 1 or more of the following in relation to the premises or\nanything at the premises:\n(a) inspect or examine;\n(b) take photographs, films or audio, video or other recordings.\nNote The Legislation Act, s 170 and s 171 deal with the application of the\nprivilege against self-incrimination and client legal privilege.\n(2) A police officer who enters premises under this part may also, for\nthis Act, do 1 or more of the following in relation to the premises or\nanything at the premises:\n(a) take measurements or conduct tests;\n(b) take samples;\n(c) require the occupier, or anyone at the premises, to give the police\nofficer reasonable help to exercise a power under this part.\nNote The Legislation Act, s 170 and s 171 deal with the application of the\nprivilege against self-incrimination and client legal privilege.\n(3) A person must take reasonable steps to comply with a requirement\nmade of the person under subsection (2) (c).\nMaximum penalty: 20 penalty units.\n\nPart 6 Authorised people\nDivision 6.2 Powers of authorised people\nSection 50\npage 46 Major Events Act 2014\nEffective: 23/02/26\nR8\n23/02/26\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n50 Police officer may seize things\n(1) A police officer who enters premises under this part with the\noccupier’s consent may seize anything at the premises if—\n(a) the police officer is satisfied on reasonable grounds that the\nthing is connected with an offence against this Act; and\n(b) seizure of the thing is consistent with the purpose of the entry\ntold to the occupier when seeking the occupier’s consent.\n(2) A police officer who enters premises under this part (whether with\nthe occupier’s consent or otherwise) may seize anything at the\npremises if satisfied on reasonable grounds that—\n(a) the thing is connected with an offence against this Act; and\n(b) the seizure is necessary to prevent the thing from being—\n(i) concealed, lost or destroyed; or\n(ii) used to commit, continue or repeat the offence.\n(3) Also, a police officer who enters premises under this part (whether\nwith the occupier’s consent or otherwise) may seize anything at the\npremises if satisfied on reasonable grounds that the thing poses a risk\nto the health or safety of people or of damage to property or the\nenvironment.\n(4) The powers of a police officer under this section are additional to the\npowers of a police officer under any other territory law.\n(5) Having seized a thing, a police officer may—\n(a) remove the thing from the premises where it was seized\n(the place of seizure) to another place; or\n(b) leave the thing at the place of seizure but restrict access to it.\n\nAuthorised people Part 6\nReturn and forfeiture of things seized Division 6.3\nSection 51\nR8\n23/02/26\nMajor Events Act 2014\nEffective: 23/02/26\npage 47\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n(6) A person commits an offence if—\n(a) the person interferes with a seized thing, or anything containing\na seized thing, to which access has been restricted under\nsubsection (5); and\n(b) the person does not have a police officer’s approval to interfere\nwith the thing.\nMaximum penalty: 20 penalty units.\n(7) An offence against this section is a strict liability offence.\nDivision 6.3 Return and forfeiture of things seized\n51 Application—div 6.3\nThis division applies to a thing seized by a police officer under this\npart other than a prohibited item seized inside an event venue.\nNote 1 Div 7.1 provides for the retention, return and disposal of prohibited items\nsurrendered or confiscated under s 15 (Offence—possessing prohibited\nitem) or seized under s 50 (Police officer may seize things).\nNote 2 A prohibited item kept by a police officer under s 61 (a) (Retention and\nreturn of certain prohibited items) must be dealt with as if the item was\nseized under this division.\n52 Receipt for things seized\n(1) As soon as practicable after a police officer seizes a thing under this\npart, the police officer must give a receipt for it to the person from\nwhom it was seized.\n(2) If, for any reason, it is not practicable to comply with subsection (1),\nthe police officer must leave the receipt, secured conspicuously, at the\nplace of seizure under section 50 (Police officer may seize things).\n(3) A receipt under this section must include the following:\n(a) a description of the thing seized;\n\nPart 6 Authorised people\nDivision 6.3 Return and forfeiture of things seized\nSection 53\npage 48 Major Events Act 2014\nEffective: 23/02/26\nR8\n23/02/26\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n(b) an explanation of why the thing was seized;\n(c) the police officer’s name, and how to contact the police officer;\n(d) if the thing is moved from the premises where it is seized—\nwhere the thing is to be taken.\n53 Access to things seized\nA person who would, apart from the seizure, be entitled to inspect a\nthing seized under this part may—\n(a) inspect it; and\n(b) if it is a document—take extracts from it or make copies of it.\n54 Return of things seized\n(1) A thing seized under this part must be returned to its owner, or\nreasonable compensation must be paid to the owner by the Territory\nfor the loss of the thing, unless—\n(a) a prosecution for an offence against a territory law in connection\nwith the thing is begun within 1 year after the day the seizure is\nmade and the thing is required to be produced in evidence in the\nprosecution; or\n(b) an application for the forfeiture of the seized thing is made to a\ncourt under the Confiscation of Criminal Assets Act 2003 or\nanother territory law within 1 year after the day the seizure is\nmade; or\n(c) all proceedings in relation to the offence with which the seizure\nwas connected have ended and the court has not made an order\nabout the thing.\n(2) However, this section does not apply to a thing—\n(a) if the director-general believes on reasonable grounds that the\nonly practical use of the thing in relation to the premises where\nit was seized would be an offence against this Act; or\n\nAuthorised people Part 6\nReturn and forfeiture of things seized Division 6.3\nSection 55\nR8\n23/02/26\nMajor Events Act 2014\nEffective: 23/02/26\npage 49\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n(b) if possession of it by its owner would be an offence.\n55 Forfeiture of things seized\n(1) This section applies if—\n(a) anything seized under this part has not been returned under\nsection 54; and\n(b) an application for disallowance of the seizure under\nsection 57—\n(i) has not been made within 10 days after the day of the\nseizure; or\n(ii) has been made within the 10-day period, but the\napplication has been refused or withdrawn before a\ndecision in relation to the application had been made.\n(2) If this section applies to the thing seized—\n(a) it is forfeited to the Territory; and\n(b) it may be sold, destroyed or otherwise disposed of as the\ndirector-general directs.\n56 Power to destroy unsafe thing\n(1) This section applies to anything inspected or seized under this part by\na police officer if the police officer is satisfied on reasonable grounds\nthat the thing poses a risk to the health or safety of people or of\ndamage to property or the environment.\n(2) The police officer may direct a person in charge of the premises where\nthe thing is to destroy or otherwise dispose of the thing.\n(3) The direction may state 1 or more of the following:\n(a) how the thing must be destroyed or otherwise disposed of;\n(b) how the thing must be kept until it is destroyed or otherwise\ndisposed of;\n\nPart 6 Authorised people\nDivision 6.3 Return and forfeiture of things seized\nSection 57\npage 50 Major Events Act 2014\nEffective: 23/02/26\nR8\n23/02/26\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n(c) the period within which the thing must be destroyed or otherwise\ndisposed of.\n(4) A person in charge of the premises where the thing is commits an\noffence if the person contravenes a direction given to the person under\nsubsection (2).\nMaximum penalty: 20 penalty units.\n(5) Alternatively, if the thing has been seized under this part, the police\nofficer may destroy or otherwise dispose of the thing.\n(6) Costs incurred by the Territory in relation to the disposal of a thing\nunder subsection (5) are a debt owing to the Territory by, and are\nrecoverable together and separately from, the following people:\n(a) the person who owned the thing;\n(b) each person in control of the premises where the thing was.\nNote An amount owing under a law may be recovered as a debt in a court of\ncompetent jurisdiction or the ACAT (see Legislation Act, s 177).\n(7) An offence against this section is a strict liability offence.\n57 Application for order disallowing seizure\n(1) A person claiming to be entitled to anything seized under this part\nmay apply to the Magistrates Court within 10 days after the day of\nthe seizure for an order disallowing the seizure.\n(2) The application may be heard only if the applicant has served a copy\nof the application on the director-general.\nNote For how documents may be served, see the Legislation Act, pt 19.5.\n(3) The director-general is entitled to appear as respondent at the hearing\nof the application.\n\nAuthorised people Part 6\nReturn and forfeiture of things seized Division 6.3\nSection 58\nR8\n23/02/26\nMajor Events Act 2014\nEffective: 23/02/26\npage 51\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n58 Order for return of seized thing\n(1) This section applies if a person claiming to be entitled to anything\nseized under this part applies to the Magistrates Court under\nsection 57 for an order disallowing the seizure.\n(2) The Magistrates Court must make an order disallowing the seizure if\nsatisfied that—\n(a) the applicant would, apart from the seizure, be entitled to the\nreturn of the seized thing; and\n(b) the thing is not connected with an offence against this Act; and\n(c) possession of the thing by the person would not be an offence.\n(3) The Magistrates Court may also make an order disallowing the\nseizure if satisfied there are exceptional circumstances justifying the\nmaking of the order.\n(4) If the Magistrates Court makes an order disallowing the seizure,\nthe court may make 1 or more of the following ancillary orders:\n(a) an order directing the director-general to return the thing to the\napplicant or to someone else who appears to be entitled to it;\n(b) if the thing cannot be returned or has depreciated in value\nbecause of the seizure—an order directing the Territory to pay\nreasonable compensation;\n(c) an order about the payment of costs in relation to the application.\n\nPart 6 Authorised people\nDivision 6.4 Enforcement—miscellaneous\nSection 59\npage 52 Major Events Act 2014\nEffective: 23/02/26\nR8\n23/02/26\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nDivision 6.4 Enforcement—miscellaneous\n59 Damage etc to be minimised\n(1) In the exercise, or purported exercise, of a function under this part,\nan authorised person must take all reasonable steps to ensure that the\nperson causes as little inconvenience, detriment and damage as\npracticable.\n(2) If an authorised person damages anything in the exercise or purported\nexercise of a function under this part, the authorised person must give\nwritten notice of the particulars of the damage to the person the\nauthorised person believes on reasonable grounds is the owner of the\nthing.\n(3) The notice must state that—\n(a) the person may claim compensation from the Territory if the\nperson suffers loss or expense because of the damage; and\n(b) compensation may be claimed and ordered in a proceeding for\ncompensation brought in a court of competent jurisdiction; and\n(c) the court may order the payment of reasonable compensation for\nthe loss or expense only if satisfied it is just to make the order in\nthe circumstances of the particular case.\n(4) If the damage happens at premises entered under this part in the\nabsence of the occupier, the notice may be given by leaving it, secured\nconspicuously, at the premises.\n\nMiscellaneous Part 7\nSurrendered or confiscated prohibited items Division 7.1\nSection 60\nR8\n23/02/26\nMajor Events Act 2014\nEffective: 23/02/26\npage 53\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nPart 7 Miscellaneous\nDivision 7.1 Surrendered or confiscated prohibited\nitems\n60 Definitions—div 7.1\nIn this division:\ncollection period, in relation to a returnable item, means—\n(a) for an item other than perishable food—the period—\n(i) starting from the time the item holder leaves the event\nvenue on the day the item was surrendered, confiscated or\nseized; and\n(ii) ending 28 days after the day the item was surrendered,\nconfiscated or seized; and\n(b) for perishable food—the period—\n(i) starting from the time the item holder leaves the event\nvenue on the day the item was surrendered, confiscated or\nseized; and\n(ii) ending at the end of the day the item was surrendered,\nconfiscated or seized.\nitem holder, in relation to a returnable item, means the person—\n(a) who surrendered the item; or\n(b) from whom the item was confiscated or seized.\nnon-returnable item means an item mentioned in section 12 (1),\ndefinition of prohibited item, paragraph (a) (i) to (vi) surrendered or\nconfiscated under section 15 (Offence—possessing prohibited item)\nor seized under section 50 (Police officer may seize things).\n\nPart 7 Miscellaneous\nDivision 7.1 Surrendered or confiscated prohibited items\nSection 61\npage 54 Major Events Act 2014\nEffective: 23/02/26\nR8\n23/02/26\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nreturnable item means a prohibited item—\n(a) surrendered or confiscated under section 15 (Offence—\npossessing prohibited item) or seized under section 50\n(Police officer may seize things); and\n(b) to which section 61 (a) does not apply.\n61 Retention and return of certain prohibited items\nWithout limiting any other territory law—\n(a) a police officer—\n(i) for a non-returnable item—must keep the item; or\n(ii) for any other prohibited item surrendered or confiscated\nunder section 15 or seized under section 50—may keep the\nprohibited item for a proceeding for an offence against this\nAct; and\n(b) the police officer must deal with an item kept under\nparagraph (a) as if the item was seized under\ndivision 6.3 (Return and forfeiture of things seized); and\n(c) for a returnable item—an authorised person must—\n(i) tell the item holder that the item holder may within the\ncollection period collect the item from the event venue or\nanother location where the item is stored in a secure way;\nand\n(ii) do either of the following:\n(A) if the item holder requests the return of the item\nwithin the collection period—return the item to the\nitem holder;\n(B) if the item holder does not collect the item within the\ncollection period—deal with the item in accordance\nwith section 62 (2).\n\nMiscellaneous Part 7\nOther matters Division 7.2\nSection 62\nR8\n23/02/26\nMajor Events Act 2014\nEffective: 23/02/26\npage 55\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n62 Storage and disposal of returnable items\n(1) An event organiser must ensure that a returnable item surrendered or\nconfiscated under section 15 (Offence—possessing prohibited item)\nor seized under section 50 (Police officer may seize things) is stored\nin a secure way until the earlier of the following:\n(a) the item is collected by the item holder;\n(b) the end of the collection period.\n(2) If a returnable item has not been collected under section 61 within the\ncollection period—\n(a) it is forfeited to the event organiser; and\n(b) the event organiser may sell, destroy or otherwise dispose of the\nitem.\nDivision 7.2 Other matters\n63 Obligations of ticket sellers\n(1) This section applies to a person (a ticket seller) who sells tickets to\nan event.\n(2) If the ticket seller believes on reasonable grounds that the event may\nbe declared a major event, the ticket seller must take reasonable steps\nto tell each person buying a ticket to the event, before the person buys\nthe ticket, that this Act may apply to the event.\n(3) If the event is declared a major event, the ticket seller must take\nreasonable steps to tell each person buying a ticket to the event, before\nthe person buys the ticket, that this Act applies to the event.\n\nPart 7 Miscellaneous\nDivision 7.2 Other matters\nSection 64\npage 56 Major Events Act 2014\nEffective: 23/02/26\nR8\n23/02/26\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n64 Compensation for exercise of search and enforcement\npowers\n(1) A person may claim compensation from the Territory if the person\nsuffers loss or expense because of the exercise, or purported exercise,\nof a function under the following provisions by an authorised person:\n(a) section 16 (Offence—authorised person may search personal\nproperty);\n(b) part 6 (Authorised people).\n(2) Compensation may be claimed and ordered in a proceeding for—\n(a) compensation brought in a court of competent jurisdiction; or\n(b) an offence against this Act brought against the person making\nthe claim for compensation.\n(3) A court may order the payment of reasonable compensation for the\nloss or expense only if satisfied it is just to make the order in the\ncircumstances of the particular case.\n(4) A regulation may prescribe matters that may, must or must not be\ntaken into account by the court in considering whether it is just to\nmake the order.\n65 Effect of disallowance of disallowable instrument\n(1) This section applies if a disallowable instrument made under this Act\nis disallowed under the Legislation Act.\n(2) Despite the Legislation Act, section 84 (Saving of operation of\nrepealed and amended laws)—\n(a) if a person has been investigated or prosecuted for an offence\nagainst this Act in relation to the event—any investigation of or\nprosecution for the offence must be discontinued and a person is\ntaken never to have been investigated or prosecuted for the\noffence; and\n\nMiscellaneous Part 7\nOther matters Division 7.2\nSection 66\nR8\n23/02/26\nMajor Events Act 2014\nEffective: 23/02/26\npage 57\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n(b) if a person has been convicted for an offence against this Act in\nrelation to the event—\n(i) the conviction for the offence is quashed; and\n(ii) the person is taken never to have been convicted of the\noffence; and\n(iii) any financial penalty and costs paid to the Territory must\nbe refunded; and\n(c) a civil or criminal proceeding does not lie against—\n(i) the Territory for an act done or omitted to be done honestly\nby an authorised person, the event organiser or venue\nmanager (an event party) in relation to the event in the\nexercise or purported exercise of a power under this Act;\nand\n(ii) an event party for an act done or omitted to be done\nhonestly by the party in relation to the event in the exercise\nor purported exercise of a power under this Act.\n66 Approved forms\n(1) The Minister may approve forms for this Act.\n(2) If the Minister approves a form for a particular purpose, the approved\nform must be used for the purpose.\n(3) An approved form is a notifiable instrument.\n67 Regulation-making power\nThe Executive may make regulations for this Act.\n\nDictionary\npage 58 Major Events Act 2014\nEffective: 23/02/26\nR8\n23/02/26\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nDictionary\n(see s 3)\nNote 1 The Legislation Act contains definitions and other provisions relevant to\nthis Act.\nNote 2 For example, the Legislation Act, dict, pt 1, defines the following terms:\n• Corporations Act\n• fail\n• found guilty\n• home address\n• magistrate\n• Magistrates Court\n• police officer.\nadvertise, for division 4.2 (Clean zones)—see section 31.\nauthorised person means—\n(a) a police officer; or\n(b) a person appointed under section 42.\nclean zone, for a major event, for division 4.2 (Clean zones)—\nsee section 31.\ncollection period, in relation to a returnable item, for division 7.1\n(Surrendered or confiscated prohibited items)—see section 60.\ncommercial purpose, for part 4 (Protection of commercial\narrangements)—see section 28.\nevent organiser, for a major event or important sporting event, means\nthe person stated in the major event declaration or important sporting\nevent notice as the organiser of the event.\nevent venue means—\n(a) for a major event—the major event venue; or\n(b) for an important sporting event—the important sporting event\nvenue.\n\nDictionary\nR8\n23/02/26\nMajor Events Act 2014\nEffective: 23/02/26\npage 59\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nimportant sporting event means a sporting event to which an\nimportant sporting event notice applies.\nimportant sporting event notice means a notice given under\nsection 9.\nimportant sporting event notice period means the period stated in the\nimportant sporting event notice for which the notice is in force.\nimportant sporting event venue, for an important sporting event,\nmeans—\n(a) the place stated in the important sporting event notice as the\nlocation for the event; and\n(b) any place reasonably incidental to the holding of the event.\nitem holder, in relation to a returnable item, for division 7.1\n(Surrendered or confiscated prohibited items)—see section 60.\nmajor event means an event to which a major event declaration\napplies.\nmajor event declaration means a declaration made under section 6.\nmajor event declaration period means the period stated in the major\nevent declaration for which the declaration is in force.\nmajor event venue, for a major event, means—\n(a) the place stated in the major event declaration as the location for\nthe event (as varied by any notice under section 8 (Major event\ndeclaration—variation)); and\n(b) any place reasonably incidental to the holding of the event.\nnon-returnable item, for division 7.1 (Surrendered or confiscated\nprohibited items)—see section 60.\noriginal sale price, of a ticket, for part 5 (Protection of ticketing\narrangements)—see section 38.\npremises, for division 6.2 (Powers of authorised people)—\nsee section 45.\n\nDictionary\npage 60 Major Events Act 2014\nEffective: 23/02/26\nR8\n23/02/26\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nprohibited item, for a major event or important sporting event—\nsee section 12 (1).\nreturnable item, for division 7.1 (Surrendered or confiscated\nprohibited items)—see section 60.\nticket, to a major event, for part 5 (Protection of ticketing\narrangements)—see section 38.\nvenue manager, in relation to an event venue, means the person\nresponsible (whether wholly or in part) for the management and use\nof the venue.\n\nEndnotes\nAbout the endnotes 1\nR8\n23/02/26\nMajor Events Act 2014\nEffective: 23/02/26\npage 61\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nEndnotes\n1 About the endnotes\nAmending and modifying laws are annotated in the legislation history and the\namendment history. Current modifications are not included in the republished law\nbut are set out in the endnotes.\nNot all editorial amendments made under the Legislation Act 2001, part 11.3 are\nannotated in the amendment history. Full details of any amendments can be\nobtained from the Parliamentary Counsel’s Office.\nUncommenced amending laws are not included in the republished law. The details\nof these laws are underlined in the legislation history. Uncommenced expiries are\nunderlined in the legislation history and amendment history.\nIf all the provisions of the law have been renumbered, a table of renumbered\nprovisions gives details of previous and current numbering.\nThe endnotes also include a table of earlier republications.\n2 Abbreviation key\nA = Act NI = Notifiable instrument\nAF = Approved form o = order\nam = amended om = omitted/repealed\namdt = amendment ord = ordinance\nAR = Assembly resolution orig = original\nch = chapter par = paragraph/subparagraph\nCN = Commencement notice pres = present\ndef = definition prev = previous\nDI = Disallowable instrument (prev...) = previously\ndict = dictionary pt = part\ndisallowed = disallowed by the Legislative r = rule/subrule\nAssembly reloc = relocated\ndiv = division renum = renumbered\nexp = expires/expired R[X] = Republication No\nGaz = gazette RI = reissue\nhdg = heading s = section/subsection\nIA = Interpretation Act 1967 sch = schedule\nins = inserted/added sdiv = subdivision\nLA = Legislation Act 2001 SL = Subordinate law\nLR = legislation register sub = substituted\nLRA = Legislation (Republication) Act 1996 underlining = whole or part not commenced\nmod = modified/modification or to be expired\n\nEndnotes\n3 Legislation history\npage 62 Major Events Act 2014\nEffective: 23/02/26\nR8\n23/02/26\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n3 Legislation history\nMajor Events Act 2014 A2014-42\nnotified LR 3 October 2014\ns 1, s 2 commenced 3 October 2014 (LA s 75 (1))\nremainder commenced 4 October 2014 (s 2)\nas amended by\nRed Tape Reduction Legislation Amendment Act 2015 A2015-33\nsch 1 pt 1.45\nnotified LR 30 September 2015\ns 1, s 2 commenced 30 September 2015 (LA s 75 (1))\nsch 1 pt 1.45 commenced 14 October 2015 (s 2)\nLiquor Amendment Act 2017 A2017-13 sch 1 pt 1.2\nnotified LR 17 May 2017\ns 1, s 2 commenced 17 May 2017 (LA s 75 (1))\nsch 1 pt 1.2 commenced 18 May 2017 (s 2 (2))\nWork Health and Safety Legislation Amendment Act 2018 A2018-8\nsch 1 pt 1.5\nnotified LR 5 March 2018\ns 1, s 2 commenced 5 March 2018 (LA s 75 (1))\nsch 1 pt 1.5 commenced 29 March 2018 (s 2)\nAnimal Welfare Legislation Amendment Act 2019 A2019-35 pt 9\nnotified LR 10 October 2019\ns 1, s 2 commenced 10 October 2019 (LA s 75 (1))\npt 9 commenced 10 April 2020 (s 2 (2))\nJustice and Community Safety Legislation Amendment Act 2025\n(No 2) A2025-3 sch 1 pt 1.8\nnotified LR 14 March 2024\ns 1, s 2 commenced 14 March 2025 (LA s 75 (1))\nsch 1 pt 1.8 commenced 21 March 2025 (s 2)\nStatute Law Amendment Act 2025 A2025-29 sch 4 pt 4.123\nnotified LR 6 November 2025\ns 1, s 2 commenced 6 November 2025 (LA s 75 (1))\nsch 4 pt 4.123 commenced 26 December 2025 (s 2 (7))\n\nEndnotes\nLegislation history 3\nR8\n23/02/26\nMajor Events Act 2014\nEffective: 23/02/26\npage 63\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nJustice and Community Safety Legislation Amendment Act 2026\nA2026-4 pt 11\nnotified LR 16 February 2026\ns 1, s 2 commenced 16 February 2026 (LA s 75 (1))\npt 11 commenced 23 February 2026 (s 2)\n\nEndnotes\n4 Amendment history\npage 64 Major Events Act 2014\nEffective: 23/02/26\nR8\n23/02/26\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n4 Amendment history\nCommencement\ns 2 om LA s 84 (4)\nMajor event—declaration\ns 6 am A2015-33 amdt 1.146; A2025-29 amdt 4.124\nMajor event declaration—variation\ns 8 am A2015-33 amdt 1.147; A2025-29 amdt 4.124\nImportant sporting event—notice\ns 9 am A2015-33 amdt 1.148; A2025-29 amdt 4.124\nMeaning of prohibited item\ns 12 am A2018-8 amdts 1.22-1.24; A2019-35 s 136, s 137\nScanning, ordinary and frisk searches—requirements\ns 19 am A2026-4 s 34\nOffence—ban orders\ns 24 am A2017-13 amdt 1.4; A2026-4 s 35\nNotice of protected symbol\ns 26 am A2015-33 amdt 1.149; A2025-29 amdt 4.124\nNotice of clean zone\ns 32 am A2015-33 amdt 1.150; A2025-29 amdt 4.124\nNotice of protection of ticketing arrangements\ns 39 am A2015-33 amdt 1.151; A2025-29 amdt 4.124\nReceipt for things seized\ns 52 am A2025-29 amdt 4.124\nRetention and return of certain prohibited items\ns 61 am A2026-4 s 36, s 37\nStorage and disposal of returnable items\ns 62 am A2025-3 amdt 1.18\nApproved forms\ns 66 am A2025-29 amdt 4.124\nRegulation-making power\ns 67 am A2025-29 amdt 4.124\nRepeal\npt 8 hdg om LA s 84 (3)\nLegislation repealed\ns 68 om LA s 84 (3)\nDictionary\ndict am A2015-33 amdt 1.152\n\nEndnotes\nEarlier republications 5\nR8\n23/02/26\nMajor Events Act 2014\nEffective: 23/02/26\npage 65\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n5 Earlier republications\nSome earlier republications were not numbered. The number in column 1 refers to\nthe publication order.\nSince 12 September 2001 every authorised republication has been published in\nelectronic pdf format on the ACT legislation register. A selection of authorised\nrepublications have also been published in printed format. These republications are\nmarked with an asterisk (*) in column 1. Electronic and printed versions of an\nauthorised republication are identical.\nRepublication\nNo and date\nEffective Last\namendment\nmade by\nRepublication\nfor\nR1\n4 Oct 2014\n4 Oct 2014-\n13 Oct 2015\nnot amended new Act\nR2\n14 Oct 2015\n14 Oct 2015-\n17 May 2017\nA2015-33 amendments by\nA2015-33\nR3\n18 May 2017\n18 May 2017-\n28 Mar 2018\nA2017-13 amendments by\nA2017-13\nR4\n29 Mar 2018\n29 Mar 2018-\n9 Apr 2020\nA2018-8 amendments by\nA2018-8\nR5\n10 Apr 2020\n10 Apr 2020–\n20 Mar 2025\nA2019-35 amendments by\nA2019-35\nR6\n21 Mar 2025\n21 Mar 2025–\n25 Dec 2025\nA2025-3 amendments by\nA2025-3\nR7\n26 Dec 2025\n26 Dec 2025–\n22 Feb 2026\nA2025-29 amendments by\nA2025-29\n© Australian Capital Territory 2026","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"},"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":6,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The legislation appears to have maintained its original scope as a comprehensive major events management framework. The 2026 amendments (A2026-4) appear to be technical or minor procedural updates rather than significant expansions. The structure remains focused on the original three pillars: crowd management, commercial protection, and ticketing controls. No evidence of scope creep into unrelated policy areas."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple overlapping regimes: Two distinct event tiers (major events vs important sporting events) with different rule sets applying to each","Extensive cross-referencing: 47+ defined terms in the Dictionary, with many signpost definitions pointing to specific sections (e.g., 'prohibited item' definition spans multiple paragraphs and incorporates external legislation)","Nested conditional logic: Section 12 (prohibited items) has a base list of 19 items, plus exclusions, plus event-specific additions, plus assistance animal exceptions with their own definitional chain","External legislative dependencies: Definitions rely on at least 7 other ACT laws (Discrimination Act, Domestic Animals Act, Drugs of Dependence Act, Dangerous Substances Act, Firearms Act, Prohibited Weapons Act, Work Health and Safety Regulation)","Multiple exception and defence layers: Clean zone advertising offences (ss 34-35) have both exceptions (s 36) and defences (s 37) with different burdens of proof","Strict liability offences mixed with fault-based offences: Many crowd control offences are strict liability (no mental element required) while commercial offences appear to require intent","Temporal complexity: Different periods apply (major event declaration period, important sporting event notice period, protection period, collection period, 24-hour bans, 12-month court orders, 10-day seizure challenge window, 28-day collection window, 1-year forfeiture window)","Dual enforcement pathways: Police officers vs authorised persons have different powers, different identity requirements, and different geographic scopes (premises definitions vary by officer type in s 45)"],"plain_english_summary":"The Major Events Act 2014 gives the ACT government a framework to manage large events, granting extra crowd‑control, commercial‑protection and anti‑scalping powers. It affects event organisers, attendees, local businesses, ticket sellers and security by enabling searches, ejections, protected branding and “clean zone” advertising restrictions.\n\nThe law lets the Territory host big events safely and protect sponsors, but also expands police/security powers and limits how businesses and individuals can trade or resell tickets."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":7,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"Yes. The republished Act reflects scope changes recorded in the amendment history: prohibited items expanded and clarified (s 12 amended by A2018‑8 and A2019‑35), search and record‑keeping requirements altered (s 19 amended by A2026‑4), ban‑order provisions amended (s 24 amended by A2017‑13 and A2026‑4), retention/return of surrendered items revised (s 61 amended by A2026‑4), and storage/disposal rules updated (s 62 amended by A2025‑3). Notices and protection provisions were also adjusted (ss 26, 32, 39 amended by A2015‑33 and A2025‑29). These amendments expand and refine enforcement powers, procedural detail and commercial protections (see Endnotes 3–4 for amendment sources)."},"complexity_factors":["Wide subject matter: crowd control, commercial IP-like protections, ticketing and seizure/forfeiture rules spanning multiple Parts.","Significant delegated discretion: Executive/Minister may make disallowable or notifiable instruments to declare events and protection periods (ss 6(5), 8(3), 26(4), 32(3), 39(3)).","Numerous cross-references and defined terms in the dictionary (eg ‘prohibited item’, ‘authorised person’) increasing interpretive load (s 12; Dictionary).","Multiple enforcement powers with procedural detail and safeguards (entry, consent, searches, seizure, return/forfeiture) across Divs 6.2–6.3 (ss 46–58, 50).","Strict liability offences and varied penalty scales (e.g. strict liability in ss 14(3), 15(3), 17(3); high penalties for commercial breaches s 27).","Interplay with Commonwealth statutes and other Territory laws (s 25 preserves operation of Copyright, Trade Marks, Designs, Competition and Consumer Act).","Detailed exceptions, defences and evidential burdens for advertising/clean zones (ss 34–37) create layered compliance rules.","Procedural remedies and compensation routes (applications to Magistrates Court, compensation claims, and consequences if instruments are disallowed) add litigation and administrative complexity (ss 57–58, 64–65)."],"plain_english_summary":"This Act lets the Executive or Minister declare major events or important sporting events and, during declared periods, authorise crowd‑management powers (searches, scanning, directions, removal and ban orders), protect event commercial arrangements (protected symbols, clean zones) and regulate ticket resale (anti‑scalping, authorised uses) (ss 6–10, 16–24, 26–41). It affects event organisers, venue managers, attendees, traders and ticket sellers by imposing permission, notice and storage obligations, search/seizure rules and monetary penalties; key decisions are made by disallowable/notifiable instruments (ss 26, 32, 39)."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/major-events-act-2014","history":"/api/acts/major-events-act-2014/history","analysis":"/api/acts/major-events-act-2014/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/major-events-act-2014/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/major-events-act-2014/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/major-events-act-2014/documents"}}