{"id":"melbourne-cricket-ground-act-2009","name":"Melbourne Cricket Ground Act 2009","slug":"melbourne-cricket-ground-act-2009","collection":"act","jurisdiction":"vic","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":173396,"registerId":"vic-melbourne-cricket-ground-act-2009-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-05","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Melbourne Cricket Ground Act 2009","content":"Version No. 006\n\n**Melbourne Cricket Ground Act 2009**\n\n**No. 15 of 2009**\n\nVersion incorporating amendments as at  \n21 August 2024\n\n**table of provisions**\n\n*Section Page*\n\n1 Purpose 3\n\n2 Commencement 4\n\n3 Definitions 4\n\n3A Filming Approval Act 2014 5\n\n4 Melbourne Cricket Ground Trust 6\n\n5 Grant of Ground to Trust 6\n\n6 Powers and functions 7\n\n7 Constitution of Trust 8\n\n8 Terms and conditions of appointment of members 8\n\n9 Resignation, removal and vacancies 8\n\n9A Acting chairperson 9\n\n9B Acting member 10\n\n10 Validity of decisions of Trust 11\n\n11 Pecuniary and other interests of members 11\n\n12 Meetings 12\n\n13 Staff 12\n\n14 Power of Minister to give direction 12\n\n15 Delegation 13\n\n16 Leases and licences 13\n\n17 Occupancy of Melbourne Cricket Club 13\n\n18 Tendering for management contracts 14\n\n19 Melbourne Cricket Club may be Ground manager 14\n\n20 Melbourne Cricket Club may receive fees and charges 15\n\n21 Delegation to Melbourne Cricket Club 15\n\n22 Delegation by Melbourne Cricket Club 16\n\n23 Borrowing powers of Trust 16\n\n24 Guarantees for Melbourne Cricket Club 17\n\n25 Business plan 18\n\n26 Annual report 20\n\n27 Commercial exploitation of name prohibited 20\n\n28 Spectator stands 21\n\n29 Floodlight towers 21\n\n30 Ministerial determination in relation to floodlights 21\n\n30A Minister may delegate floodlights determination power under section 30 22\n\n31 Operation of floodlights 23\n\n32 No injunction or other relief 23\n\n33 Regulations 24\n\n34 Transitional provisions 25\n\n34A Transitional and savings provision—Previous decisions, matters or things of the Trust not affected 29\n\n35 Repeal of Melbourne Cricket Ground Acts 29\n\nEndnotes 31\n\n1 General information 31\n\n2 Table of Amendments 33\n\n3 Explanatory details 34\n\n**Version No.** **006**\n\n**Melbourne Cricket Ground Act 2009**\n\n**No. 15 of 2009**\n\nVersion incorporating amendments as at  \n21 August 2024\n\n**Preamble**\n\nBy an Order in Council dated 9 December 1861 land known as the Melbourne Cricket Ground was permanently reserved as a metropolitan cricket ground.\n\nBy a Crown grant dated 17 June 1862 the Melbourne Cricket Ground was granted to the trustees of the Melbourne Cricket Ground upon trust that the Ground and the buildings on it be maintained and used as and for a place for playing cricket and for related conveniences.\n\nBy an Order in Council dated 9 June 1873 land described in Crown grant Volume 600 Folio 119902 was permanently reserved as a site for a public park.\n\nBy a Crown grant dated 13 June 1873 land described in Crown grant Volume 600 Folio 119902 and the buildings on it were for the time being granted to the Board of Land and Works and the City of Melbourne upon trust to be maintained and used as a public park and related conveniences.\n\nBy a deed executed by the Board of Land and Works on 2 October 1929 and by the City of Melbourne on 6 November 1929 the Board and the City of Melbourne as trustees of the land described in Crown grant Volume 600 Folio 119902 granted to the Melbourne Cricket Club permission to occupy and use in connection with the Melbourne Cricket Ground an area of land being part of the land described in the Crown grant.\n\nIn order to provide more adequate accommodation for the public at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, particular areas of land described in Crown grant Volume 600 Folio 119902 were subsequently added to and included in the Melbourne Cricket Ground.\n\nCertain adjustments to the boundaries of the Melbourne Cricket Ground and particular areas of the land described in Crown grant Volume 600 Folio 119902, and further provision with respect to the use and management of the Melbourne Cricket Ground, were made by the **Melbourne Cricket Ground Act** **1933**.\n\nUnder the **Melbourne Cricket Ground Act** **1933**, the permanent reservation and the Crown grant of the Melbourne Cricket Ground and particular areas of the land described in Crown grant Volume 600 Folio 119902 were revoked. Land described in the Fifth Schedule to that Act and known as the ground was granted to the trustees of the Melbourne Cricket Ground upon trust that the Ground be maintained and used as and for a place for playing at cricket and for conveniences connected therewith and when not required for cricket for such other purposes not inconsistent with the foregoing as the trustees think fit and for no other purpose whatsoever.\n\nBy a Crown grant dated 4 December 1933 land including the Melbourne Cricket Ground and particular areas of the land formerly described in Crown grant Volume 600 Folio 119902 were entered as a Crown grant in the register book of the Office of Titles Volume 5925 Folio 1184828.\n\nBy an Order in Council dated 20 February 1934 land described in Crown grant Volume 5925 Folio 1184828 was permanently reserved as a site for the Melbourne Cricket Ground.\n\nUnder the **Melbourne Cricket Ground (Trustees) Act** **1957** amendments were made in relation to the trustees of the Melbourne Cricket Ground.\n\nCertain adjustments to the boundaries of the Melbourne Cricket Ground were made by the **Melbourne Cricket Ground Act** **1951**, the **Melbourne Cricket Ground Act** **1962** and the **Melbourne Cricket Ground Act** **1963**.\n\nUnder the **Melbourne Cricket Ground Act** **1984** provision was made for the construction and operation of floodlights at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.\n\nUnder the **Melbourne Cricket Ground (Guarantees) Act 1984** the Treasurer was authorised to guarantee the repayment or satisfaction of money borrowed or advances or other financial accommodation obtained by the Melbourne Cricket Club and amendments were made with respect to the borrowing powers of the Melbourne Cricket Club.\n\nThe trustees of the Melbourne Cricket Ground were incorporated and the powers of the Melbourne Cricket Ground Trust widened under the **Melbourne Cricket Ground Trust Act 1989**.\n\nIt is expedient to re-enact the law relating to the Melbourne Cricket Ground.\n\n**The Parliament of Victoria therefore enacts:**\n\n\t1 Purpose\n\nThe purpose of this Act is to—\n\n(a) re-enact and further provide for the law relating to the Melbourne Cricket Ground; and\n\n(b) repeal the **Melbourne Cricket Ground Act 1933**, the **Melbourne Cricket Ground Act 1951**, the **Melbourne Cricket Ground (Trustees) Act 1957**, the **Melbourne Cricket Ground Act 1983**, the **Melbourne Cricket Ground Act 1984**, the **Melbourne Cricket Ground (Guarantees) Act 1984** and the **Melbourne Cricket Ground Trust Act 1989**; and\n\n(c) make consequential amendments to various other Acts.\n\n\t2 Commencement\n\nThis Act comes into operation on the day after the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.\n\n\t3 Definitions\n\nIn this Act—\n\n***chairperson*** means a person appointed under section 7(a);\n\nS. 3 def. of *film friendly principles* inserted by No. 51/2014 s. 9(Sch. 2 item 10.1).\n\n***film friendly principles*** has the same meaning as in the **Filming Approval Act 2014**;\n\nS. 3 def. of *film permit* inserted by No. 51/2014 s. 9(Sch. 2 item 10.1).\n\n***film permit*** has the same meaning as in the **Filming Approval Act 2014**;\n\n***financial accommodation*** has the same meaning as in the **Borrowing and Investment Powers Act 1987**;\n\n***financial arrangement*** means an arrangement entered into for the purpose of managing, lessening, hedging or protecting against movements in interest or discount rates or other costs of obtaining financial accommodation;\n\n***Ground*** means the land and strata described as Crown Allotments 1, 1A, 1B, 1C and 1D of Section 19C and Crown Allotments 2003, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2065 at East Melbourne, City of Melbourne, Parish of Melbourne North;\n\n***Melbourne Cricket Club*** means the body corporate constituted by the **Melbourne Cricket Club Act 1974** under the name \"Melbourne Cricket Club\";\n\n***member*** means a person appointed to the Trust under section 7(a) or section 7(b);\n\n***specified Minister*** means—\n\n(a) the Minister; or\n\n(b) the Minister administering the **Sport and Recreation Act 1972**; or\n\n(c) the Treasurer;\n\nS. 3 def. of *Trust* amended by No. 89/2009 s. 9(2).\n\n***Trust*** means the Melbourne Cricket Ground Trust established under section 4;\n\nS. 3 def. of *Yarra Park Reserve* inserted by No. 89/2009 s. 9(1).\n\n***Yarra Park Reserve***  has the same meaning as in the **Melbourne (Yarra Park) Land Act 1980**.\n\nS. 3A inserted by No. 51/2014 s. 9(Sch. 2 item 10.2).\n\n\t3A Filming Approval Act 2014\n\nThis Act is filming approval legislation within the meaning of the **Filming Approval Act 2014**.\n\n\t4 Melbourne Cricket Ground Trust\n\n(1) There is established a trust known as the Melbourne Cricket Ground Trust.\n\n(2) The Trust—\n\n(a) is a body corporate with perpetual succession; and\n\n(b) has a common seal; and\n\n(c) may sue or be sued in its corporate name; and\n\n(d) is capable of acquiring, holding and disposing of real and personal property; and\n\n(e) is capable of doing or suffering anything which by law bodies corporate may do or suffer.\n\n\t5 Grant of Ground to Trust\n\n(1) The Trust is deemed to be the grantee of the Ground.\n\n(2) Crown grant Volume 5925 Folio 1184828 is deemed to have effect subject to subsection (1) as follows—\n\n(a) all land and strata set out in the definition of the Ground are deemed to be included in, and form part of, the land referred to in the Crown grant; and\n\n(b) the Trust is deemed to be the body to which the land and strata is granted under the Crown grant.\n\n(3) The Ground is deemed to continue to be permanently reserved under section 4(1) of the **Crown Land (Reserves) Act 1978** for the public to be maintained and used as and for a place for playing at cricket and for conveniences connected therewith and, when not required for cricket, for such other purposes not inconsistent with the foregoing as the Trust thinks fit, and for no other purpose whatsoever.\n\n\t6 Powers and functions\n\n(1) The functions of the Trust are—\n\n(a) to manage, control and make improvements to the Ground at the Trust's discretion; and\n\nS. 6(1)(ab) inserted by No. 89/2009 s. 10.\n\n(ab) to be the committee of management for Yarra Park Reserve; and\n\n(b) to carry out any other function conferred on or given to the Trust by or under this Act or any other Act; and\n\n(c) upon the request of the Minister, to provide to the Minister advice in relation to—\n\n(i) the construction and management of sporting facilities; or\n\n(ii) the management of major sporting events.\n\n(2) The Trust has power to do all things necessary for carrying out its functions.\n\n(3) Without limiting subsection (2), the Trust, with the approval of the Treasurer and for the purposes of carrying out its functions, may—\n\n(a) invest money of the Trust in any manner approved by the Treasurer;\n\n(b) form, or participate in the formation of, a corporation, trust or partnership;\n\n(c) subscribe for or otherwise acquire, hold and dispose of or otherwise deal with any securities of a corporation;\n\n(d) subscribe for or otherwise acquire, hold and dispose of units in a unit trust;\n\n(e) become a member of a corporation, trust, partnership or joint venture;\n\n(f) enter into any arrangement for the sharing of profits.\n\n\t7 Constitution of Trust\n\nThe Trust consists of—\n\n(a) a chairperson appointed by the Governor in Council; and\n\nS. 7(b) amended by No. 28/2024 s. 25.\n\n(b) not less than 6 and not more than 9 members appointed by the Governor in Council, being persons who have experience in sports, sports administration, business, financial or community affairs.\n\n\t8 Terms and conditions of appointment of members\n\nA member—\n\n(a) may be appointed for the period not exceeding 5 years that is specified in the member's instrument of appointment; and\n\n(b) is eligible for reappointment; and\n\n(c) is entitled to receive fees, travelling and other allowances from time to time fixed by the Governor in Council; and\n\n(d) is subject to any other terms and conditions that are specified in the member's instrument of appointment.\n\n\t9 Resignation, removal and vacancies\n\nS. 9(1) amended by No. 28/2024 s. 26(1).\n\n(1) A member may resign by giving notice in writing signed by the member to the Minister.\n\n(2) The Governor in Council may remove a member at any time if the member—\n\nS. 9(2)(a) amended by No. 28/2024 s. 26(2).\n\n(a) becomes incapable of performing the member's duties as a member; or\n\nS. 9(2)(b) amended by No. 28/2024 s. 26(2).\n\n(b) is negligent in the performance of the member's duties as a member; or\n\n(c) engages in improper conduct; or\n\n(d) fails to disclose a conflict of interest; or\n\n(e) becomes insolvent under administration; or\n\n(f) is found guilty of an offence against the Corporations Act.\n\n(3) If a member of the Trust resigns or is removed, the Governor in Council may appoint another member in accordance with this Act.\n\nS. 9A inserted by No. 28/2024 s. 27.\n\n\t9A Acting chairperson\n\n(1) The Minister may appoint a member of the Trust to act as chairperson during a period of vacancy if—\n\n(a) the office of chairperson of the Trust becomes vacant under section 9; or\n\n(b) the chairperson of the Trust is unable to perform the duties of office of chairperson because of illness or otherwise.\n\n(2) A member of the Trust appointed as acting chairperson under subsection (1)—\n\n(a) has and may exercise all the powers and perform all the duties and functions of the office of chairperson; and\n\n(b) retains their position as a member of the Trust but is not to exercise the functions and powers of a member (other than as acting chairperson) for the period of the appointment as acting chairperson; and\n\n(c) is entitled to receive the same fees, travelling and other allowances as the person appointed as chairperson, but is not also entitled to receive the fees, travelling and other allowances of a member (other than as the acting chairperson) during the period of the appointment as acting chairperson.\n\n**Note**\n\nSee section 8.\n\n(3) For the avoidance of doubt, the appointment of a member of the Trust as acting chairperson does not constitute a resignation, removal from office or vacancy in that office of member under section 9.\n\nS. 9B inserted by No. 28/2024 s. 27.\n\n\t9B Acting member\n\n(1) If a member of the Trust is unable to perform the duties or functions of the member's office, the Minister may appoint a person qualified to be appointed to that office as an acting member during the period of inability.\n\n(2) The Minister—\n\n(a) subject to this Act, may determine the terms and conditions of the appointment of the acting member; and\n\n(b) may terminate the appointment at any time.\n\n(3) An acting member is entitled to receive the same fees, travelling and other allowances as a member.\n\n(4) The Minister's determination of fees, travelling and other allowances under subsection (3) must be the same amount as those fixed by the Governor in Council under section 8(c).\n\n(5) While the appointment of an acting member remains in force, the acting member has and may exercise all the powers and perform all the duties and functions of the office in which that person is acting.\n\n\t10 Validity of decisions of Trust\n\nAn act or decision of the Trust is not invalid merely because of—\n\n(a) a defect or irregularity in, or in connection with, the appointment of a member; or\n\n(b) a vacancy in the membership of the Trust.\n\n\t11 Pecuniary and other interests of members\n\nS. 11(1) amended by No. 28/2024 s. 28.\n\n(1) If a member—\n\n(a) has a direct or indirect pecuniary interest in; or\n\n(b) has an interest which would conflict with the proper performance of the member's duties in relation to—\n\na matter being considered or about to be considered by the Trust at a meeting, the member must declare the nature of the interest at the meeting, as soon as practicable after the relevant facts have come to the member's knowledge.\n\n(2) The person presiding at a meeting at which a declaration under subsection (1) is made must ensure that the declaration is recorded in the minutes of the meeting.\n\n(3) If a declaration is made under subsection (1)—\n\n(a) unless the Trust otherwise directs, the member must not be present during any deliberation with respect to the matter; and\n\n(b) the member is not entitled to vote on the matter; and\n\n(c) if the member votes on the matter, the vote must be disallowed.\n\n\t12 Meetings\n\n(1) The chairperson must preside at a meeting of the Trust at which the chairperson is present.\n\nS. 12(2) amended by No. 28/2024 s. 29.\n\n(2) If the chairperson is absent, and there is no acting chairperson, the members present at the meeting must elect one of those members to preside at the meeting.\n\n(3) A majority of members for the time being constitutes a quorum of the Trust.\n\n(4) A question arising at a meeting must be determined by a majority of votes of members present and voting on that question.\n\n(5) The person presiding at a meeting has a deliberative vote and, in the event of an equality of votes on any question, a second or casting vote.\n\n(6) The Trust may permit members to participate in a meeting by electronic or other means of communication.\n\n(7) Subject to this Act, the Trust may regulate its own proceedings.\n\n\t13 Staff\n\nThe Trust may employ any such persons as are necessary for the performance of its functions.\n\n\t14 Power of Minister to give direction\n\n(1) The Minister, after consultation with the Treasurer, may give a written direction to the Trust on the performance, discharge or exercise by it of any of its functions, duties or powers under this Act.\n\n(2) The Trust must comply with a direction given under subsection (1).\n\n(3) The Trust must give the Minister any information the Minister requires to enable the Minister to determine whether the Trust has complied with such a direction.\n\n\t15 Delegation\n\nThe Trust, by instrument under its common seal, may delegate to a member of the Trust any function, power or duty of the Trust, other than this power of delegation.\n\n\t16 Leases and licences\n\nDespite anything to the contrary in the **Crown Land (Reserves) Act 1978** or any other Act or law, the Trust, with the approval of the Minister—\n\n(a) may grant leases for terms not exceeding 99 years; and\n\n(b) may grant licences for terms not exceeding 50 years—\n\nin respect of the whole or a part of the Ground for purposes consistent with the purpose for which the land is reserved.\n\n\t17 Occupancy of Melbourne Cricket Club\n\n(1) Despite any other provision of this Act, the Melbourne Cricket Club is entitled to occupy the Ground to the extent and in the manner enjoyed by it at the commencement of the **Melbourne Cricket Ground Act 1933** so long as—\n\n(a) the constitution of the Melbourne Cricket Club is not altered without the consent of the Trust; and\n\n(b) the Melbourne Cricket Club commits no wilful and persistent breach of any regulations made from time to time by the Trust in respect of the Ground; and\n\n(c) the Melbourne Cricket Club commits no wilful and persistent breach of any agreement in writing made between it and the Trust; and\n\n(d) any money borrowed (whether before or after the commencement of this Act) and applied by the Melbourne Cricket Club for the purpose of improving the Ground is owing by the Melbourne Cricket Club to the lenders of the money or to persons lawfully deriving title from those lenders.\n\n(2) The occupation by the Melbourne Cricket Club of the Ground under subsection (1) is deemed to be an occupation pursuant to permission of the Trust lawfully given in the performance of its functions and in accordance with the terms of the Crown Grant and not otherwise.\n\n\t18 Tendering for management contracts\n\n(1) The Trust, by public notice, may call for tenders for the management of the whole or a part of the Ground.\n\n(2) Before entering into a contract for the management of the whole or a part of the Ground, the Trust must consider all tenders received by it before the date specified in the public notice as the closing date for the receipt of tenders.\n\n(3) The Trust may only award a contract to a person who has submitted a tender in response to and in accordance with the public notice but the Trust is not required to award a contract to the lowest tenderer.\n\n\t19 Melbourne Cricket Club may be Ground manager\n\n(1) The Trust may appoint, by agreement, the Melbourne Cricket Club as Ground manager of the whole or a part of the Ground during a period that the Melbourne Cricket Club is the lessee of the whole of the Ground.\n\n(2) The Trust is not required to call for tenders before making an appointment under subsection (1).\n\n(3) While the Melbourne Cricket Club is the Ground manager of the whole of the Ground, the Trust must not enter into a contract with any other person to manage the whole or any part of the Ground.\n\n\t20 Melbourne Cricket Club may receive fees and charges\n\n(1) While the Melbourne Cricket Club is the Ground manager of the whole of the Ground, the Melbourne Cricket Club is entitled to receive and retain all entrance fees and charges and all revenue and income arising in the course of its management of the Ground.\n\n(2) Subsection (1) is subject to the terms and conditions of any agreement for the appointment of the Melbourne Cricket Club as Ground manager and all money collected by the Melbourne Cricket Club under that subsection must be allocated and disbursed in accordance with that agreement.\n\n\t21 Delegation to Melbourne Cricket Club\n\nS. 21(1) amended by No. 89/2009 s. 11(1).\n\n(1) The Trust, with the approval of the Minister, may delegate by instrument to the Melbourne Cricket Club any part of the functions or powers of the Trust under this or any other Act, other than this power of delegation.\n\nS. 21(2) amended by No. 89/2009 s. 11(2).\n\n(2) If the Trust delegates a function or power under subsection (1), and the function or power relates to the management, control, improvement or use of the Ground or to the Trust's role as committee of management for Yarra Park Reserve, the Melbourne Cricket Club must implement any policy from time to time made by the Trust in relation to that function or power.\n\n\t22 Delegation by Melbourne Cricket Club\n\nS. 22(1) amended by No. 89/2009 s. 12(1).\n\n(1) The Melbourne Cricket Club, with the approval of the Trust, may delegate by instrument to any person any function or power delegated to the Melbourne Cricket Club by the Trust under this or any other Act, other than this power of delegation.\n\nS. 22(2) amended by No. 89/2009 s. 12(2).\n\n(2) If the Melbourne Cricket Club delegates a function or power under subsection (1), and the function or power relates to the management or use of the Ground or Yarra Park Reserve, the delegate must implement any policy made from time to time by the Trust in relation to the function or power.\n\n(3) A policy referred to in subsection (2) must not be inconsistent with—\n\n(a) any agreement appointing the Melbourne Cricket Club as Ground manager of the whole or a part of the Ground; or\n\n(b) any lease to the Melbourne Cricket Club of the whole of the Ground.\n\n\t23 Borrowing powers of Trust\n\n(1) The Trust, with the approval of the Treasurer, may obtain financial accommodation and enter into and perform financial arrangements.\n\n(2) If the Trust obtains financial accommodation or enters into and performs financial arrangements under subsection (1), the Treasurer may execute a guarantee, in favour of any person, guaranteeing the repayment of any money payable under, or the satisfaction of, that financial accommodation or those financial arrangements, including any interest charges or expenses chargeable by the creditor against the Trust and any expenses of enforcing that financial accommodation or those financial arrangements.\n\n(3) A guarantee given by the Treasurer under subsection (2) must be in the form and subject to the terms and conditions determined by the Treasurer.\n\n(4) A sum required to be paid by the Treasurer in fulfilling a guarantee under this section must be paid out of the Consolidated Fund which is appropriated to the necessary extent for the payment to be made.\n\n(5) A sum received or recovered by the Treasurer from the Trust or any other sum received in respect of payment by the Treasurer under a guarantee must be paid into the Consolidated Fund.\n\n\t24 Guarantees for Melbourne Cricket Club\n\n(1) If the Melbourne Cricket Club obtains financial accommodation or enters into and performs financial arrangements, the Treasurer may execute a guarantee, in favour of any person, guaranteeing the repayment of any money payable under, or the satisfaction of, that financial accommodation or those financial arrangements, including any interest charges or expenses chargeable by the creditor against the Melbourne Cricket Club and any expenses of enforcing that financial accommodation or those financial arrangements.\n\n(2) A guarantee given by the Treasurer under subsection (1) must be in the form and subject to the terms and conditions determined by the Treasurer.\n\n(3) Without limiting subsection (2), the guarantee may be subject to the following conditions—\n\n(a) that the holder of the guarantee must hold securities as required by the Treasurer for the repayment of the financial accommodation or financial arrangements;\n\n(b) that the guarantee is not enforceable against the Treasurer unless the holder of the guarantee has exercised, to the Treasurer's satisfaction, the holder's rights and remedies under all securities held by or for the holder in respect of the financial accommodation or financial arrangements.\n\n(4) A sum required to be paid by the Treasurer in fulfilling a guarantee under this section must be paid out of the Consolidated Fund which is appropriated to the necessary extent for the payment to be made.\n\n(5) A sum received or recovered by the Treasurer from the Melbourne Cricket Club or any other sum received in respect of payment by the Treasurer under a guarantee must be paid into the Consolidated Fund.\n\n(6) The Treasurer must not execute a guarantee under this section if the guarantee would involve the Treasurer in a liability in respect of a principal sum which when added to the total liabilities then subsisting in respect of other principal sums guaranteed under this section would in total exceed the sum as may be determined by the Treasurer from time to time.\n\n\t25 Business plan\n\n(1) The Trust must prepare a business plan for each year.\n\n(2) While the Melbourne Cricket Club is Ground manager of the whole of the Ground, the Melbourne Cricket Club must—\n\n(a) prepare the business plan on behalf of the Trust in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Melbourne Cricket Club's appointment as Ground manager; and\n\n(b) submit the plan to the Trust for approval.\n\n(3) On or before the date in each year that is determined by the Minister, the Trust must give a copy of the plan it has prepared under subsection (1) or has approved under subsection (2) to each specified Minister.\n\n(4) The business plan must be in the form approved by each specified Minister and must include—\n\n(a) a statement of corporate intent, being information about the objectives, main undertakings, activities, accounting policies and performance measures of the Trust;\n\n(b) financial statements of the Trust, containing the information (if any) required by a specified Minister;\n\n(c) any other matter that a specified Minister directs.\n\nS. 25(4A) inserted by No. 89/2009 s. 13.\n\n(4A) The plan prepared under subsection (4) must also include the performance measures and targets included in the statement of intent included in the management and improvement plan for the year approved under section 8(7) of the **Melbourne (Yarra Park) Land Act 1980**.\n\n(5) The Trust must consider any comment on the plan prepared under subsection (4) that is made by a specified Minister within 2 months after the plan was submitted to the Minister.\n\n(6) If a specified Minister has made a comment under subsection (5), the Trust must—\n\n(a) consult in good faith with the Minister; and\n\n(b) make any changes to the plan that are agreed upon between the Minister and the Trust; and\n\n(c) deliver the settled plan to each specified Minister.\n\n(7) The whole or a part of the plan must not be published or made available except for the purposes of this section without the prior approval of each specified Minister.\n\n\t26 Annual report\n\n(1) In each year, within 3 months after the end of its financial year, the Trust must submit a report to each specified Minister in respect of the preceding financial year.\n\n(2) A report under subsection (1) must contain—\n\n(a) a report of the operations of the Trust during the financial year; and\n\nS. 26(2)(b) amended by No. 89/2009 s. 14(1).\n\n(b) financial statements for the financial year; and\n\nS. 26(2)(c) inserted by No. 89/2009 s. 14(2).\n\n(c) an explanation of whether the performance measures and targets included in the statement of intent included in the management and improvement plan for the year approved under section 8(7) of the **Melbourne (Yarra Park) Land Act 1980** have been met for the financial year.\n\n\t27 Commercial exploitation of name prohibited\n\nA person, in the course o f a trade or business, must not assign the name \"Melbourne Cricket Ground\" or the initials \"MCG\" as the name, or part of the name, of any place that is not the Ground, or a part of the Ground, unless authorised by the Trust.\n\n1. in the case of a natural person, 100 penalty units;\n\n\nin the case of a body corporate, 600 penalty units.\n\n\t28 Spectator stands\n\nNothing in the **Planning and Environment Act 1987** or in any planning scheme made under that Act applies to the development or use of any spectator stand on the Ground.\n\n\t29 Floodlight towers\n\n(1) Despite anything to the contrary in the **Planning and Environment Act 1987** or in any planning scheme made under that Act, the Trust may—\n\n(a) replace, remove, refurbish or upgrade the floodlight towers on the Ground; and\n\n(b) operate the floodlights affixed to those floodlight towers.\n\n(2) Any building or works associated with a floodlight tower under subsection (1) must be undertaken in accordance with the plans and specifications approved by the Minister administering the **Crown Land (Reserves) Act 1978** and the Minister administering the **Planning and Environment Act 1987**.\n\n\t30 Ministerial determination in relation to floodlights\n\n(1) The Minister may make a determination specifying a day or days on which the floodlights affixed to the floodlight towers may be operated.\n\n(2) A determination under subsection (1) may make provision for any of the following matters—\n\n(a) times of the day when the floodlights may be used;\n\n(b) the purpose for which the floodlights may be used;\n\n(c) entrance into and exit from Yarra Park Reserve of vehicles on any day when the floodlights may be used;\n\n(d) parking of vehicles in Yarra Park Reserve on any day when the floodlights may be used;\n\n(e) any other relevant matter specified in the determination.\n\n(3) A determination under subsection (1) must be published in the Government Gazette.\n\nS. 30(4) repealed by No. 89/2009 s. 15.\n\n* * * * *\n\nS. 30A inserted by No. 28/2024 s. 30.\n\n\t30A Minister may delegate floodlights determination power under section 30\n\n(1) Subject to subsection (2), the Minister, by instrument, may delegate the Minister's power under section 30 to—\n\n(a) the Secretary of the Department of the Minister administering this Act; or\n\n(b) a person or class of person employed under Part 3 of the **Public Administration Act 2004** as an executive within the meaning of that Act in the Department of the Minister administering this Act.\n\n(2) A delegation under subsection (1)—\n\n(a) may be in relation to a determination for the operation of floodlights generally or for a particular period; and\n\n(b) may be subject to any conditions or limitations that the Minister specifies in the instrument of delegation.\n\n**Note**\n\nSee also sections 42 and 42A of the **Interpretation of Legislation Act 1984**.\n\n\t31 Operation of floodlights\n\nThe Trust or the Ground manager must operate the floodlights affixed to the floodlight towers in accordance with a determination of the Minister under section 30.\n\n\t32 No injunction or other relief\n\n(1) An action seeking relief by way of an injunction or seeking any other form of relief does not lie against any person specified in subsection (2) merely because that person—\n\n(a) replaces, removes, refurbishes or upgrades the floodlight towers; or\n\n(b) operates the floodlights affixed to the floodlight towers—\n\nin accordance with this Act.\n\n(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), the following persons are specified—\n\n(a) the Trust;\n\n(b) any member of the Trust;\n\n(c) the Melbourne Cricket Club;\n\n(d) any person employed in the administration of this Act;\n\n(e) any person conducting an event at the Ground;\n\n(f) an employee of the Trust, Melbourne Cricket Club, or any person conducting an event at the Ground.\n\n\t33 Regulations\n\n(1) Despite anything to the contrary in the **Land Act 1958**, or the **Crown Land (Reserves) Act 1978**,  the Trust, with the approval of the Governor in Council, may make regulations with respect to the functions of the Trust.\n\n(2) Without limiting subsection (1), the Trust may make regulations for or with respect to—\n\n(a) the admission of the public to the whole or any part of the Ground;\n\n(b) the collection of entrance fees or other charges for entering upon the whole or any part of the Ground;\n\n(c) the preservation of good order and behaviour.\n\nS. 33(2A) inserted by No. 51/2014 s. 9(Sch. 2 item 10.3).\n\n(2A) Any regulations made under this Act for or with respect to the issuing of film permits must not be inconsistent with the film friendly principles.\n\n(3) Regulations made under this section must—\n\n(a) be published in the Government Gazette; and\n\n(b) be posted in a conspicuous place in each part of the Ground.\n\n(4) A person must comply with any regulations made under this section.\n\n1. 10 penalty units.\n\n\n\t34 Transitional provisions\n\n(1) Subject to section 5, the repeal of section 5 of the **Melbourne Cricket Ground Act 1933** is not to be taken to affect the Crown grant made under that section.\n\n(2) Despite the repeal of section 5B of the **Melbourne Cricket Ground Act 1933**—\n\n(a) the pre-dating Trust is deemed to continue in existence as if it were established as the Trust under this Act; and\n\n(b) each member of the pre-dating Trust is deemed to continue in office as a member of the Trust, as if the member had been appointed under this Act, for the remaining period of that member's term of appointment.\n\n(3) Despite the repeal of section 5B of the **Melbourne Cricket Ground Act 1933**—\n\n(a) any rights, property and assets that immediately before that repeal were vested in the pre-dating Trust are deemed to be vested in the Trust established under this Act; and\n\n(b) any debts, liabilities and obligations of the pre-dating Trust that were existing immediately before that commencement are deemed to be the debts, liabilities and obligations of the Trust established under this Act; and\n\n(c) the Trust established under this Act is deemed to be substituted as a party to any proceedings pending in any court to which the pre-dating Trust was a party immediately before that repeal; and\n\n(d) the Trust established under this Act is substituted as a party to any arrangement or contract entered into by or on behalf of the pre-dating Trust and in force immediately before that repeal; and\n\n(e) any reference to the pre-dating Trust in any Act or in any subordinate instrument, agreement, instrument, deed or other document whatsoever, so far as it relates to any period after that repeal and if not inconsistent with the context or subject matter, must be construed as a reference to the Trust established under this Act and the force and effect of any such document is not to be taken to be affected by that repeal.\n\n(4) The repeal of section 6J of the **Melbourne Cricket Ground Act 1933** is not to be taken to affect any delegation made under that section as in force immediately before that repeal and that delegation is to be taken to continue in force as if made under section 15 of this Act and as if the Trust were the delegator.\n\n(5) The repeal of section 7A of the **Melbourne Cricket Ground Act 1933** is not to be taken to affect any delegation made under that section as in force immediately before that repeal and that delegation is to be taken to continue in force as if made under section 21 of this Act and as if the Trust were the delegator.\n\n(6) The repeal of section 7AB of the **Melbourne Cricket Ground Act 1933** is not to be taken to affect any delegation made under that section as in force immediately before that repeal and that delegation is to be taken to continue in force as if made under section 22 of this Act and as if the Trust were the body corporate who approved the delegation.\n\n(7) The repeal of section 7B of the **Melbourne Cricket Ground Act 1933** is not to be taken to affect any lease or licence granted under that section as in force immediately before that repeal and that lease or licence is to be taken to continue in force as if made under section 16 of this Act and as if the Trust were a party to the lease or licence in place of the pre-dating Trust.\n\n(8) The repeal of section 7C of the **Melbourne Cricket Ground Act 1933** is not to be taken to affect any guarantee made under that section as in force immediately before that repeal and that guarantee is to be taken to continue in force as if made under section 23 of this Act.\n\n(9) The repeal of section 7E of the **Melbourne Cricket Ground Act 1933** is not to be taken to affect any indemnity executed, or any other arrangement entered into, under that section as in force immediately before that repeal and that indemnity or that arrangement is to be taken to continue in force and the Treasurer is to be taken to continue to have the power to enter into and fulfil any liability under that indemnity or that arrangement and to carry out any duty or obligation under that indemnity or that arrangement.\n\n(10) The repeal of section 7F of the **Melbourne Cricket Ground Act 1933** is not to be taken to affect any business plan made under that section as in force immediately before that repeal and that business plan is to be taken to continue in force as if made under section 25 of this Act as if it were made by the Trust.\n\n(11) The repeal of section 7K of the **Melbourne Cricket Ground Act 1933** is not to be taken to affect an appointment made under that section as in force immediately before that repeal and that appointment is to be taken to continue in force as if made under section 19 of this Act and as if it were made by the Trust.\n\n(12) The repeal of section 9 of the **Melbourne Cricket Ground Act 1933** is not to be taken to affect the Regulations made under that section as in force immediately before that repeal and the Regulations are to be taken to continue in force as if made under section 33 of this Act and as if made by the Trust.\n\n(13) The repeal of section 3 of the **Melbourne Cricket Ground (Guarantees) Act 1984** is not to be taken to affect any guarantee made under that section as in force immediately before that repeal and that guarantee is to be taken to continue in force as if made under section 24 of this Act.\n\n(14) The repeal of section 4 of the **Melbourne Cricket Ground (Guarantees) Act 1984** is not to be taken to affect any determination made under that section as in force immediately before that repeal and that determination is to be taken to continue in force as if made under section 24(6) of this Act.\n\n(15) In this section—\n\n***pre-dating Trust*** means the body corporate that was, immediately before the repeal of section 5B of the **Melbourne Cricket Ground Act 1933**, the ***Trust*** within the meaning of the **Melbourne Cricket Ground Act 1933**;\n\n***the Regulations*** means the regulations for the Melbourne Cricket Ground made by the Melbourne Cricket Ground Trust on 2 December 1994, with the approval of the Governor in Council on 29 November 1994 and published in Special Government Gazette No. S. 101 (pages 6–9) on 21 December 1994 and subsequently amended by the Melbourne Cricket Ground (Amendment) Regulations 1997 on 23 September 1997, with the approval of the Governor in Council on 25 November 1997 and published in the Government Gazette No. G. 48 (pages 3337–3338) on 4 December 1997.\n\nS. 34A inserted by No. 28/2024 s. 31.\n\n\t34A Transitional and savings provision—Previous decisions, matters or things of the Trust not affected\n\n(1) On and from the commencement of Part 5 of the **State Sporting Legislation Amendment Act 2024**, the Trust is taken to be the same body as it was immediately before the commencement, despite the changes to the constitution of the Trust made by that Act, and no decision, matter or thing is to be affected by those changes.\n\n(2) The members of the Trust holding office immediately before the commencement of Part 5 of the **State Sporting Legislation Amendment Act 2024** continue to hold office as members after that commencement on the same terms and conditions on which they held office as members immediately before the commencement.\n\n\t35 Repeal of Melbourne Cricket Ground Acts\n\nThe **Melbourne Cricket Ground Act 1933**, the **Melbourne Cricket Ground Act 1951**, the **Melbourne Cricket Ground (Trustees) Act 1957**, the **Melbourne Cricket Ground Act 1983**, the **Melbourne Cricket Ground Act 1984**, the **Melbourne Cricket Ground (Guarantees) Act 1984** and the **Melbourne Cricket Ground Trust Act 1989** are **repealed**.\n\nS. 36 repealed by No. 70/2013 s. 3(Sch. 1 item 33).\n\n* * * * *\n\n\n\nEndnotes\n\n1 General information\n\nSee [www.legislation.vic.gov.au](http://www.legislation.vic.gov.au) for Victorian Bills, Acts and current Versions of legislation and up-to-date legislative information.\n\n *Minister's second reading speech—*\n\n *Legislative Assembly: 4 December 2008*\n\n *Legislative Council: 12 March 2009*\n\nThe long title for the Bill for this Act was \"A Bill for an Act to re-enact and further provide for the law relating to the Melbourne Cricket Ground, to repeal the **Melbourne Cricket Ground Act 1933**, the **Melbourne Cricket Ground Act 1951**, the **Melbourne Cricket Ground (Trustees) Act 1957**, the **Melbourne Cricket Ground Act 1983**, the **Melbourne Cricket Ground Act 1984**, the **Melbourne Cricket Ground (Guarantees) Act 1984** and the **Melbourne Cricket Ground Trust Act 1989**, to make consequential amendments to various other Acts and for other purposes.\"\n\nThe **Melbourne Cricket Ground Act 2009** was assented to on 7 April 2009 and came into operation on 8 April 2009: section 2.\n\nINTERPRETATION OF LEGISLATION ACT 1984 (ILA)\n\nStyle changes\n\nSection 54A of the ILA authorises the making of the style changes set out in Schedule 1 to that Act.\n\nReferences to ILA s. 39B\n\nSidenotes which cite ILA s. 39B refer to section 39B of the ILA which provides that where an undivided section or clause of a Schedule is amended by the insertion of one or more subsections or subclauses, the original section or clause becomes subsection or subclause (1) and is amended by the insertion of the expression \"(1)\" at the beginning of the original section or clause.\n\nInterpretation\n\nAs from 1 January 2001, amendments to section 36 of the ILA have the following effects:\n\n• Headings\n\nAll headings included in an Act which is passed on or after 1 January 2001 form part of that Act. Any heading inserted in an Act which was passed before 1 January 2001, by an Act passed on or after 1 January 2001, forms part of that Act. This includes headings to Parts, Divisions or Subdivisions in a Schedule; sections; clauses; items; tables; columns; examples; diagrams; notes or forms. See section 36(1A)(2A).\n\n• Examples, diagrams or notes\n\nAll examples, diagrams or notes included in an Act which is passed on or after 1 January 2001 form part of that Act. Any examples, diagrams or notes inserted in an Act which was passed before 1 January 2001, by an Act passed on or after 1 January 2001, form part of that Act. See section 36(3A).\n\n• Punctuation\n\nAll punctuation included in an Act which is passed on or after 1 January 2001 forms part of that Act. Any punctuation inserted in an Act which was passed before 1 January 2001, by an Act passed on or after 1 January 2001, forms part of that Act. See section 36(3B).\n\n• Provision numbers\n\nAll provision numbers included in an Act form part of that Act, whether inserted in the Act before, on or after 1 January 2001. Provision numbers include section numbers, subsection numbers, paragraphs and subparagraphs. See section 36(3C).\n\n• Location of \"legislative items\"\n\nA \"legislative item\" is a penalty, an example or a note. As from 13 October 2004, a legislative item relating to a provision of an Act is taken to be at the foot of that provision even if it is preceded or followed by another legislative item that relates to that provision. For example, if a penalty at the foot of a provision is followed by a note, both of these legislative items will be regarded as being at the foot of that provision. See section 36B.\n\n• Other material\n\nAny explanatory memorandum, table of provisions, endnotes, index and other material printed after the Endnotes does not form part of an Act.  \nSee section 36(3)(3D)(3E).\n\n2 Table of Amendments\n\nThis publication incorporates amendments made to the **Melbourne Cricket Ground Act 2009** by Acts and subordinate instruments.\n\n–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––\n\n**Melbourne Cricket Ground and Yarra Park Amendment Act 2009, No. 89/2009**\n\n| Assent Date: | 15.12.09 |\n| --- | --- |\n| Commencement Date: | Ss 9–15 on 15.3.10: s. 2(2) |\n| Current State: | This information relates only to the provision/s amending the **Melbourne Cricket Ground Act 2009** |\n\n\n**Statute Law Revision Act 2013, No. 70/2013**\n\n| Assent Date: | 19.11.13 |\n| --- | --- |\n| Commencement Date: | S. 3(Sch. 1 item 33) on 1.12.13: s. 2(1) |\n| Current State: | This information relates only to the provision/s amending the **Melbourne Cricket Ground Act 2009** |\n\n\n**Filming Approval Act 2014, No. 51/2014**\n\n| Assent Date: | 12.8.14 |\n| --- | --- |\n| Commencement Date: | S. 9(Sch. 2 item 10) on 1.3.15: s. 2(2) |\n| Current State: | This information relates only to the provision/s amending the **Melbourne Cricket Ground Act 2009** |\n\n\n**State Sporting Legislation Amendment Act 2024, No. 28/2024**\n\n| Assent Date: | 20.8.24 |\n| --- | --- |\n| Commencement Date: | Ss 25–31 on 21.8.24: s. 2 |\n| Current State: | This information relates only to the provision/s amending the **Melbourne Cricket Ground Act 2009** |\n\n\n–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––\n\n3 Explanatory details\n\nNo entries at date of publication.","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"summary":{"complexity_score":5,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"Based on available information, the Act appears to have maintained its original scope as a consolidating and governing instrument for the MCG's management framework. The consolidated version reflects amendments over time but no significant expansion or contraction of its core purpose is evident from the metadata provided."},"complexity_factors":["Involves multiple overlapping entities with distinct legal roles (Trust, MCC, Victorian Government)","Balances private club rights with public interest obligations — an inherently nuanced legal tension","Intersects with heritage, property law, public land management, and sporting governance","Historical arrangements and long-standing licences create layered obligations not always explicit in the text","Limited legislative text was provided, making full complexity assessment difficult — actual Act may be more or less complex than scored"],"plain_english_summary":"The Melbourne Cricket Ground Act 2009 sets the legal framework for ownership, control and day‑to‑day management of the MCG, clarifying the roles of the Melbourne Cricket Ground Trust and the Melbourne Cricket Club. It governs use for major events, access and on‑site regulation, affecting the MCC and its members, event organisers, attendees and the Victorian Government. The Act protects public interest in a nationally significant venue while preserving historic club arrangements."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":5,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"This version expands and modernises the original 1933/1951/1980s MCG legislation in several concrete ways beyond mere re-enactment. Additions and scope changes include: (a) explicit responsibility for Yarra Park Reserve (s 6(1)(ab)); (b) incorporation of film regime rules and requirement that film‑permit regulations comply with film‑friendly principles (s 3A; s 33(2A)); (c) strengthened Ministerial oversight and delegation options (power to give written directions, approval rights over investments, leases and delegations, and delegation of floodlight determination power to departmental executives) (ss 14, 6(3), 16, 21, 30A); (d) explicit planning exemptions and limits on injunctive relief for floodlight and spectator‑stand works (ss 28–29, 32), which narrow third‑party review routes; (e) preservation and formalisation of the Melbourne Cricket Club's preferential occupancy and management position and revenue entitlements (ss 17–20); and (f) modern borrowing and guarantee arrangements subject to Treasurer conditions and caps (ss 23–24). These changes shift the balance toward enabling commercial management and infrastructure works while increasing Ministerial and Treasurer oversight and exposing the public purse to contingent liabilities."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple cross-references to other Acts (Crown Land (Reserves) Act 1978; Filming Approval Act 2014; Borrowing and Investment Powers Act 1987; Melbourne (Yarra Park) Land Act 1980; Planning and Environment Act 1987, etc.)","Transitional and savings provisions preserving existing delegations, leases, guarantees and memberships (ss 34–34A) increasing interpretive complexity","Delegation chains and conditional delegations: Trust -> Melbourne Cricket Club -> third parties, and Ministerial delegation of floodlight determination (ss 15, 21–22, 30A)","Significant Ministerial discretion and approval points (investment approvals, lease approvals, business plan approval, power to give directions) (ss 6(3), 14, 16, 25)","Exceptions to ordinary administrative and judicial procedures (planning-scheme exemptions for stands; limitation on injunctions related to floodlights) (ss 28–29, 32)","Varied conditional rules on membership, vacancy, acting appointments and pecuniary-interest declarations (ss 7–12, 9A, 9B, 11)","Long-duration property instruments (leases up to 99 years; licences up to 50 years) creating long-term contractual commitments (s 16)","Penalty and enforcement provisions with different penalty-unit scales (s 27, s 33)","Multiple amending instruments incorporated (2009, 2013, 2014, 2024) — requires reading with amendment history to understand current text"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this law does (mechanically)**\n\n- Establishes the Melbourne Cricket Ground Trust (the Trust) as a corporate body with powers to manage, improve and control the Melbourne Cricket Ground (the Ground) and to act as committee of management for Yarra Park Reserve (s 4, s 6(1)(ab)).\n- Treats the Trust as the legal grantee of the Crown land that makes up the Ground and preserves that land as reserved for cricket and related uses (s 5).\n- Sets out how the Trust is constituted and governed: a chairperson and between 6 and 9 members appointed by the Governor in Council; appointment, resignation, removal, and acting-member arrangements are provided (ss 7–12, 9A, 9B).\n- Gives the Trust broad powers to do what is necessary to carry out its functions, including investing money with Treasurer approval, forming or joining companies/joint ventures, entering profit‑sharing arrangements, and delegating powers (s 6(2)–(3), s 15).\n- Allows the Trust (with Minister approval) to grant long leases and licences over parts or all of the Ground — leases up to 99 years and licences up to 50 years — provided uses are consistent with the reserve purpose (s 16).\n- Preserves the historic occupancy and management role of the Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC): the MCC may continue to occupy the Ground subject to conditions; the Trust may appoint the MCC as Ground manager without calling tenders while the MCC is lessee of the whole Ground; while manager the MCC may collect and retain entrance fees (ss 17–20). The Trust may delegate functions to the MCC (s 21) and the MCC may further delegate with Trust approval (s 22).\n- Permits the Trust to borrow (with Treasurer approval) and authorises the Treasurer to give guarantees for borrowings by the Trust and (separately) for borrowings by the MCC, subject to conditions and limits (ss 23–24).\n- Requires the Trust to prepare an annual business plan and to supply it and an annual report (including financial statements and specified performance reporting) to specified Ministers; Ministers may comment and require agreed changes (ss 25–26).\n- Prohibits a person in trade or business from using the name \"Melbourne Cricket Ground\" or initials \"MCG\" for places that are not the Ground unless authorised by the Trust; that prohibition carries specified penalties (s 27).\n- Removes the usual planning-scheme requirements for spectator stands and for certain works on floodlight towers; explicitly allows the Trust to replace/upgrade/operate floodlights in accordance with plans approved by responsible Ministers (ss 28–29).\n- Gives a Minister power to determine when floodlights may be operated and to specify conditions (publication required); that power can be delegated to named departmental executives (ss 30, 30A). The Trust or Ground manager must operate floodlights according to the determination (s 31).\n- Limits legal remedies: a person cannot obtain an injunction or other relief merely because floodlight towers are replaced/operated in accordance with the Act (s 32).\n- Allows the Trust, with Governor in Council approval, to make regulations about admission, fees, conduct and other functions; regulations about film permits must be consistent with film‑friendly principles (s 33, s 3A).\n- Contains transitional and savings provisions preserving pre-existing leases, delegations, guarantees and the continuity of the pre-existing Trust and its members when the Act replaced earlier MCG legislation (ss 34–34A). The Act repeals earlier MCG Acts (s 35).\n\n**Who this affects**\n\n- The Melbourne Cricket Ground Trust (board and staff) — primary duty‑holder for management, leases, delegations, compliance with Ministerial directions and reporting requirements (ss 4, 14, 25–26).\n- The Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC) — retains special occupancy and management roles, can be appointed Ground manager and collect revenues while manager (ss 17–20), and can receive delegations from the Trust (s 21).\n- Event organisers, contractors and commercial operators who deal with the Ground, seek leases or licences, or apply for permits to film or to operate events (ss 16, 21, 33, s 3A).\n- The Treasurer and specified Ministers — have approval and oversight roles (investment approvals, guarantees, approvals for leases/delegations, business‑plan sign‑off, floodlight determinations) (ss 6(3), 14, 23–24, 25(3)–(6), 30–30A).\n- Nearby land users and local planning authorities — planning exemptions for stands and floodlight works mean fewer opportunities to use planning schemes to challenge those developments (ss 28–29, 32).\n- Commercial users of the MCG name — need Trust authorisation or risk penalties (s 27).\n\n**Why it matters (claimed purpose and practical effects)**\n\nThe Act’s stated purpose is to re‑enact and modernise the law governing the Melbourne Cricket Ground and to consolidate prior MCG laws (s 1). Practically, the Act does several things that change incentives and decision paths:\n\n- Concentrates operational control in the Trust, but gives Ministers (and the Treasurer) substantial control points — approval rights and the ability to issue binding written directions (s 14) and to approve investments, leases and delegations (ss 6(3), 16, 21). That structure centralises decision authority between an operational board and executive government.\n\n- Preserves and entrenches the MCC’s special role: the MCC can manage the Ground and keep event revenues while manager, and may avoid public tender when appointed as Ground manager (ss 19–20). That creates a durable commercial advantage for the MCC and reduces competitive access to the management role while the MCC is lessee of the whole Ground.\n\n- Facilitates long‑term commercial arrangements with private parties (leases up to 99 years; licences up to 50 years) and allows the Trust to engage in commercial investments and corporate structures (ss 16, 6(3)). Those provisions make it easier to secure private financing and to plan long‑lived investments, but also create long‑term lock‑ins over use of the reserved land.\n\n- Exposes the public purse to contingent liabilities: the Treasurer may guarantee borrowings by the Trust and by the MCC (ss 23–24). Those guarantees can lower finance costs for the Trust or MCC but create potential fiscal risk if called.\n\n- Reduces regulatory friction for stadium works: exemptions from normal planning scheme controls for stands and floodlight tower works (ss 28–29), together with limits on injunctions (s 32), accelerate infrastructure changes but restrict judicial and planning review routes.\n\n- Adds film‑related controls by making the Act subject to the Filming Approval Act 2014 and requiring any film‑permit regulations to be consistent with film‑friendly principles (s 3A; s 33(2A)), which can affect commercial filming access and fees at the Ground.\n\n**Costs, incentives and trade‑offs to note**\n\n- Who pays: Borrowing guarantees (ss 23–24) can shift repayment risk onto the Consolidated Fund if guarantees are called; operating and maintenance costs sit primarily with the Trust and its manager (ss 6, 17–20).\n\n- Concentrated benefits vs diffuse costs: The MCC is positioned to receive concentrated financial benefits (management revenues, preferential appointment rules) while the broader public bears diffuse risks (public guarantees, long leases that limit future alternatives) (ss 17–20, 23–24, 16).\n\n- Compliance burden: the Trust must prepare an approved business plan and annual report and comply with Ministerial directions and information requests (ss 14, 25–26). Delegations and approvals add administrative steps for many commercial transactions (ss 15, 21–22).\n\n- Bureaucratic discretion and political oversight: Ministers and the Treasurer have several discretionary approval powers and can issue binding directions (ss 14, 6(3), 23–24, 25(3)–(6), 30–30A). Decision‑making therefore involves both board governance and ministerial oversight.\n\n- Legal risk and limits on remedies: section 32 removes the availability of injunctions or other relief simply because floodlights are replaced or operated in accordance with the Act, limiting a legal avenue for affected third parties.\n\n- Opportunity costs and lock‑in: long leases (s 16) and preserved MCC management arrangements (ss 17–20) create durable contractual regimes that may foreclose alternative commercial uses or new managers for extended periods.\n\n**Implementation and enforcement risks**\n\n- Coordination between the Trust, the MCC, Ministers and the Treasurer is necessary for approvals, delegations and guarantees; mismatches in expectations could delay projects.\n- The ability to delegate floodlight scheduling to departmental executives (s 30A) concentrates operational control and may reduce transparency unless delegation instruments and conditions are published.\n- Transitional provisions preserve pre‑existing delegations, leases and guarantees (s 34), which may embed legacy contractual terms that are inconsistent with later policy changes.\n\n**Key sections to consult quickly**\n\n- Trust powers and functions: s 6; constitution and appointments: ss 7–12; leases/licences: s 16; MCC rights: ss 17–22; borrowing and guarantees: ss 23–24; Ministerial direction: s 14; floodlights and legal limits: ss 29–32; film provisions: s 3A and s 33(2A); business plan/reporting: ss 25–26.\n\n(References in parentheses are to the section numbers of the Melbourne Cricket Ground Act 2009.)"},"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The legislation remains focused on its original purpose of establishing the Melbourne Cricket Ground Trust and governing the MCG's management. While amendments have expanded the Trust's role to include management of Yarra Park Reserve (2009) and updated filming permit rules (2014), and recent changes improved governance flexibility (2024 acting appointments), these are incremental adjustments within the core scope rather than mission creep. The Act has not expanded significantly beyond its original intent of managing the MCG and its immediate surrounds."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple cross-references to other Acts (Crown Land (Reserves) Act 1978, Planning and Environment Act 1987, Filming Approval Act 2014, etc.)","Complex transitional provisions in section 34 preserving pre-existing leases, delegations, guarantees, and regulations from repealed Acts","Conditional logic around Melbourne Cricket Club's occupancy rights (section 17) with four separate conditions that must all be met","Nested delegation structure: Trust can delegate to MCC (section 21), MCC can sub-delegate (section 22), but both subject to policy constraints and approval requirements","Multiple ministerial roles ('specified Minister' definition includes three different ministers)","Interaction between Trust's general powers and specific exemptions from planning laws (sections 28-29)","Recent amendments (2024) adding acting chairperson and acting member provisions (sections 9A, 9B) with specific conditions about fees and voting","Business plan requirements involve consultation with multiple ministers and performance measures linked to separate Yarra Park legislation"],"plain_english_summary":"This Act sets up the legal framework for managing the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), one of Australia's most famous sporting venues.\n\n**What it does:**\n- **Establishes the Melbourne Cricket Ground Trust** – a government body that owns and manages the MCG. The Trust is a legal entity (like a company) that can hire staff, borrow money, and enter contracts.\n- **Defines the land** – specifies exactly which parcels of land constitute the \"Ground\" (including Crown Allotments in East Melbourne).\n- **Preserves the Melbourne Cricket Club's rights** – the historic Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC) keeps its special right to occupy and manage the ground, provided it doesn't breach agreements or regulations.\n- **Allows the Trust to delegate powers** – the Trust can hand over management functions to the MCC or others, with ministerial approval.\n- **Regulates floodlights** – special rules allow the Trust to install and operate floodlight towers for night games, with the Minister setting conditions about when they can be used.\n- **Provides financial powers** – the Trust can borrow money and enter financial arrangements, with the Treasurer able to guarantee these loans (meaning the government backs them).\n- **Requires planning and reporting** – the Trust must prepare annual business plans and submit annual reports to specified ministers.\n- **Protects the MCG name** – bans businesses from using \"Melbourne Cricket Ground\" or \"MCG\" for other venues without permission.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n- **The Melbourne Cricket Ground Trust** – the governing body\n- **The Melbourne Cricket Club** – the historic cricket club with occupancy rights\n- **The Victorian Government** – through ministerial oversight and financial guarantees\n- **The public** – through regulations governing admission, behaviour, and use of the venue\n- **Event organisers and broadcasters** – through filming permit rules and floodlight regulations\n\n**Why it matters:**\nThis Act ensures the MCG remains properly managed while preserving its historical connection to the Melbourne Cricket Club. It balances the Trust's modern management needs with heritage protections, and gives the government oversight through ministerial directions and financial controls. The floodlight provisions are particularly important because they override normal planning laws, allowing night sporting events to proceed without standard planning approvals."},"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"}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/melbourne-cricket-ground-act-2009","history":"/api/acts/melbourne-cricket-ground-act-2009/history","analysis":"/api/acts/melbourne-cricket-ground-act-2009/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/melbourne-cricket-ground-act-2009/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/melbourne-cricket-ground-act-2009/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/melbourne-cricket-ground-act-2009/documents"}}