The Bill works through three categories of legal mechanism: regulatory limits on private commercial conduct at events; tightened administrative governance for sports facility authorities; and formal clarification of enforcement roles and environmental/noise compliance for special events.

Regulatory limits on private commercial conduct

• Price cap on ticket resale: The Bill prohibits resale of a major event ticket at more than 10% above the original sale price (new s 31(1), cl 10), backed by criminal penalties in penalty units (new s 31(1)(a)-(b)). This is a substantive limit on private pricing behaviour.
• Localised resale ban: The Bill separately prohibits selling or offering to sell a ticket to a major event within a controlled area or a major event area, unless the seller holds written approval of the major event organiser (new s 31A, cl 11). This is a spatial restriction on resale tied to event‑defined areas.
• Public selling restrictions extended: Section 30 is amended so that selling on road or public land is explicitly prohibited in a controlled area or major event area (cl 9). Entry onto competition or performance areas is extended to include major event areas (s 22 amendment, cl 8).

Administrative governance changes for major sports facilities

• Appointment process: Directors are appointed by Governor in Council on Ministerial recommendation, with the Minister required to be satisfied of specified qualifications or experience (new wording of s 12, cl 17). The Minister therefore has gatekeeping power through the recommendation process.
• Prescribed skillset: The Bill lists specific domains of experience or qualification that are acceptable (asset management; building and construction; commercial enterprise operations; event promotion; financial administration; law; property development; sports administration) and also permits other relevant knowledge or experience the Minister considers necessary (s 12(3)(a)-(b), cl 17).
• Chair and deputy processes: The Governor in Council must appoint a chair; may appoint a deputy; term lengths for chair/deputy must not exceed the director term; resignation and vacancy rules are specified (new s 17, s 17AB, s 17AC, cl 22-23).
• Disqualification grounds: The Bill lists explicit disqualification grounds , unspent conviction for an indictable offence, insolvent under administration, or disqualification under Corporations Act part 2D.6 (new s 17AA, cl 22).

Enforcement and authorised persons

• Authorised persons are explicitly defined under the Major Events Act 2014 as police officers or persons holding an appointment under s 56 (new s 55A, cl 13). That constrains who may exercise powers designated to authorised persons under the Act and references the s 56 appointment regime.
• The State Penalties Enforcement Regulation is amended to change the infringement notice entry for the resale provision in the Major Sports Facilities Act (cl 35), which alters how infringement notices are engaged and the applicable fine category.

Environmental/noise compliance and special events

• Lawful use for prescribed special events: Section 30A is amended to clarify the categories of statutes and licences to which the special-event lawful use provision relates, and to add that compliance with conditions prescribed under subsection (5) about noise levels means the subsection dealing with override of environmental noise requirements applies (new ss 30A(2A) and (2B), cl 29). It also states that, to the extent applicable, the use is “taken to be in compliance with the general environmental duty” under the Environmental Protection Act 1994, s 319 (cl 29).

Technical and transitional mechanics

• New definitions and dictionary alignments: The Bill inserts definitions, notably "drone" (cl 31) and aligns the dictionary references in sch 1 and sch 2 to the new authorised person and board terms (cl 14 and cl 33).
• Transitional provisions: The Bill contains transitional provisions that carry existing officeholders into the new structure and apply the disqualification and vacancy rules to directors holding office after commencement (cl 32).

These concepts map to behavioural levers: pricing and place-based resale controls regulate private commercial acts; governance changes reallocate appointment and vetting power to the Minister and Governor in Council; authorised person definitions allocate enforcement authority; and the noise-related amendments allocate regulatory certainty to facility users who meet prescribed conditions.

Primary categories of persons and entities affected by the Bill:

• Ticket sellers and resellers: The new price cap in s 31 (cl 10) applies to any person selling or offering for sale a ticket to a major event anywhere, because the prohibition is framed as “A person must not sell, or offer for sale, a ticket to a major event at a price greater than 10% above the original sale price” (new s 31(1)). The spatial prohibition in s 31A (cl 11) specifically affects anyone selling tickets within controlled areas or major event areas. Penalties apply to both individuals and corporations (new s 31(1)(a)-(b); s 31A(1)(a)-(b)).

• Major event organisers: Organisers obtain a discretionary power to grant written approval to permit resales in controlled or major event areas (new s 31A(2), cl 11). Organisers therefore have increased gatekeeping over localised resale activity. Organisers may also be required to document or police resale bans in their event areas to enable enforcement.

• Attendees and members of the public entering event precincts: Access restrictions are expanded. Entering playing/competition/performance areas now extends to “in a major event area” (amendment to s 22(1)(a), cl 8). Sale of goods on roads/public land in controlled or major event areas is prohibited (s 30 amendment, cl 9). This affects buskers, street vendors, scalpers and secondary-market participants operating within such zones.

• Police and appointed authorised persons: The Bill defines “authorised person” as a police officer or a person appointed under s 56 (new s 55A, cl 13). That narrows or clarifies the enforcement cohort for major-events provisions (previously the dictionary defined authorised person; now sch 1 refers to s 55A).

• Major sports facility authorities and boards: The governance amendments in the Major Sports Facilities Act 2001 restructure appointment, term and disqualification rules (cl 17-26). The Minister is given a central role in recommending directors, subject to the Minister’s satisfaction about candidates’ qualifications or experience (new s 12(2)-(3), cl 17). The Governor in Council remains the formal appointing authority (new s 12(2), cl 17). Chair and deputy appointment, resignation and term rules affect board logistics and succession planning (new s 17, s 17AB, s 17AC, cl 22-23).

• Prospective directors and existing officeholders: The Bill imposes new disqualification criteria (new s 17AA, cl 22). Transitional provisions make the disqualification and vacancy rules apply to directors holding office after commencement, whether appointed before or after (cl 32, ss 89-90). A person described in former s 13(2) is taken to hold office as chair under new s 17 (cl 32, s 89).

• Drone operators and aviation-interested persons: The Bill introduces a statutory definition of "drone" for part 4B (cl 31). That term is also inserted into the "aircraft" definition for the Act. This affects any rules or prohibitions concerning aircraft or aerial devices at sports facilities and events.

• Local governments and environmental regulators: The Bill expressly interacts with local laws and the Liquor Act in the context of noise from special-event use of facilities (amendment to s 30A, cl 29). It also ties compliance with prescribed noise conditions to the Environmental Protection Act 1994 general environmental duty (new s 30A(2B), cl 29). Those regulators may see changes in the way compliance with noise and licencing conditions is assessed.

• Corporations that operate sports facilities or conduct event promotion, property development and related activities: The Minister’s list of relevant skills (new s 12(3)(a), cl 17) includes commercial enterprise operations, property development and event promotion. Corporations providing directors or services in those fields will operate within a governance regime that emphasises those competencies.

• Persons who may previously have been able to buy/sell tickets in event precincts (street vendors, market stallholders, informal scalpers): These activities will be constrained within controlled areas or major event areas by new s 31A and by s 30 amendments.

Who pays and who decides

• Penalties are payable by individuals and corporations who breach the resale restrictions (new s 31 and s 31A set criminal penalties in penalty units; see cl 10-11).
• The Minister decides whom to recommend for directorships, subject to satisfaction about qualifications/experience (new s 12(2)-(3), cl 17).
• The Governor in Council makes formal appointments of directors and the chair (new s 12(2) and new s 17(1), cl 17 and cl 22).
• Enforcement is to be carried out by police officers and persons appointed under s 56 (new s 55A, cl 13).

This distribution shifts gatekeeping of board appointments to executive political recommendation (Minister) while operational enforcement of event regulations is focused on police and statutorily appointed persons.

This section summarises statutory duties created or modified, and statutory permissions and rights, with references to the Bill’s amendments and insertions.

Duties and prohibitions relating to tickets and event precinct commerce

• Prohibition on excessive resale price: A person must not sell or offer for sale a ticket to a major event at a price greater than 10% above the original sale price (new s 31(1); cl 10). This is a positive statutory prohibition on pricing behaviour; the duty is posed as a criminal offence with penalty units prescribed (s 31(1)(a)-(b)).
• Prohibition on reselling inside controlled/major event areas: A person must not sell or offer to sell a ticket to a major event in a controlled area or major event area, unless they have the written approval of the major event organiser (new s 31A(1) and s 31A(2); cl 11). This creates a spatial duty: no resale inside the defined areas without organiser authorisation.
• Selling on roads or public land: Selling on a road or public land in a controlled area or major event area is now explicitly covered by the Major Events Act (amendment to s 30; cl 9). That creates a duty to refrain from vending on public land within those areas.
• Entering restricted areas: The amendment to s 22 expands existing prohibitions on entering playing fields or competition/performance areas to include entry in a major event area (s 22(1)(a) as amended; cl 8), reinforcing duty to keep off competition or performance surfaces across event precincts.

Rights and permissions

• Organiser’s written approval: The major event organiser may grant written approval that authorises resale within controlled or major event areas (new s 31A(2); cl 11). That is a conditional permission creating a limited licensing power at the organiser level.
• Lawful use and noise compliance: Where conditions prescribed under subsection (5) about noise levels are complied with, the use of a major sports facility for a special event is taken to be in compliance with the Environmental Protection Act 1994 general environmental duty as it applies to noise (new s 30A(2A)-(2B); cl 29). That gives a statutory right to treat prescribed compliance with noise conditions as meeting certain environmental obligations for the duration or to the extent specified.

Governance duties and conditions

• Minister’s recommendation duty: A director is appointed by Governor in Council on the Minister’s recommendation (new s 12(2); cl 17). The Minister may recommend only if satisfied the person has specified qualifications/experience or other relevant knowledge (new s 12(3)(a)-(b); cl 17). The Minister therefore has a gatekeeper duty to form a satisfaction as to candidate competency.
• Chair and deputy appointment and term: Governor in Council must appoint a chair and may appoint a deputy; the chair or deputy’s stated term must not extend beyond their director term; resignation and vacancy rules state when office ends or becomes vacant (new s 17 and ss 17AB-17AC; cl 22-23).
• Disqualification and resignation requirements: A person is disqualified from becoming or continuing as a director if they have an unspent conviction for an indictable offence, are an insolvent under administration, or are disqualified under Corporations Act part 2D.6 (new s 17AA; cl 22). A director may resign by signed notice to the Minister and the resignation takes effect on the date stated or the date the notice is given (new s 17AB; cl 22).

Enforcement authority and duties

• Authorised persons: Each of the following is an authorised person, a police officer and a person who holds an appointment under section 56 (new s 55A; cl 13). That creates a statutory definition of who must be treated as empowered to exercise the Act’s compliance and enforcement powers.
• Infringement notices: The State Penalties Enforcement Regulation 2014 is amended to alter how infringement notices can be issued for the Major Sports Facilities Act resale offence by changing schedule entries (cl 35). The Bill also removes a schedule entry and alters the authorised person entry for service of infringement notices (cl 35(2)-(3)). These changes reallocate who may serve infringement notices and under what prescribed schedule.

Procedural rights and transitional protections

• Transitional carry-over: A person who holds office as chair under the prior provision is taken to hold office as chair under the new section from commencement (cl 32, s 89). New disqualification and vacancy sections apply to existing directors post-commencement (cl 32, s 90). Those are rights of continuity coupled with the application of new eligibility rules.

Penalties and legal consequences are expressed in penalty units rather than by attached dollar values. The Bill preserves a mix of summary criminal offences and infringement mechanisms (with the latter subject to the State Penalties Enforcement Regulation amendments).

The Bill creates criminal prohibitions with specified maximum penalties in penalty units and adjusts the infringement-notice framework for related offences. It also narrows who is an authorised person for enforcement activity. Below are the specific penalty and enforcement mechanics in the Bill.

Criminal penalties in new and amended sections

• Ticket resale price cap (new s 31): The Bill prescribes maximum penalties for breach of the 10% resale cap. For an individual the maximum is 135 penalty units and for a corporation the maximum is 680 penalty units (cl 10, new s 31(1)(a)-(b)). The offence is framed as “A person must not sell, or offer for sale, a ticket to a major event at a price greater than 10% above the original sale price.”
• Ticket resale in controlled/major event areas (new s 31A): The Bill prescribes the same maximum penalties for selling or offering for sale a ticket in a controlled area or major event area without written approval: 135 penalty units for an individual and 680 penalty units for a corporation (cl 11, new s 31A(1)(a)-(b)). Subsection (2) creates an exception where the person has the written approval of the major event organiser.
• Amendment to s 30C (Major Sports Facilities Act): The Bill changes the penalty provision for section 30C(1) of the Major Sports Facilities Act to set the same maxima , 135 penalty units for an individual and 680 penalty units for a corporation (cl 30(2)). The Bill also omits former subsection (2) and renumbers later subsections accordingly (cl 30(3)-(6)). Note: the Bill makes substantive structural changes to s 30C; one of the replacement edits to subsection (3) appears to intervene with the existing text and is marked for replacement (cl 30(4)), but the source text supplied for that replacement clause reads incomplete in the passage available. That creates a drafting risk (see Gotchas below).

Infringement notice framework

• The State Penalties Enforcement Regulation 2014 schedule is amended to change the infringement notice classification for the Major Sports Facilities Act resale offence (cl 35). Specifically, the schedule entry for Major Sports Facilities Act 2001, section 30C(1) has its column 2 entry changed from ‘2’ to ‘13’ (cl 35(1)). The Bill removes the schedule entry for s 30C(2) (cl 35(2)) and alters the authorised person entry for service to remove a cross-reference (cl 35(3)). These schedule adjustments change which infringement notice schedule applies and which authorised persons may serve such notices under the regulation framework.
• Because the regulation uses numerical schedule entries to map to prescribed infringement fine levels, moving a schedule number typically alters the dollar amount attached to the infringement notice category. The Bill does not itself specify dollar amounts; the change in numerical category in the regulation will effect the monetary fine that can be imposed by infringement notice for the resale offence listed.

Who enforces

• Authorised persons: The Bill inserts a specific definition in the Major Events Act 2014 stating that an authorised person is a police officer or a person who holds an appointment under s 56 (new s 55A, cl 13). That narrows enforcement authority to uniformed police and designated appointees under the Act’s appointment process and removes reliance on a general dictionary definition.
• Police: By naming police officers explicitly in s 55A the Bill makes police the primary enforcement body for many event-related offences. The Bill elsewhere converts references from “commissioner of the police service” to “police commissioner” in schedule 1 amendments for the Major Sports Facilities Act (schedule 1, item 2-3).
• Service of infringement notices: The amendments to the State Penalties Enforcement Regulation schedule alter who may be the authorised person for serving infringement notices for the Major Sports Facilities Act. The Bill removes a cross-reference in the regulation that previously allowed additional authorised persons to serve notices (cl 35(3)).

Practical enforcement process

• Criminal prosecution: The offences created by new s 31 and s 31A are framed with maximum penalties in penalty units. Enforcement by police or appointed authorised persons can result in either summary prosecution and conviction (up to the maximum penalty) or issuance of an infringement notice where the regulation provides for one (as affected by cl 35).
• Infringement notices will be governed by the State Penalties Enforcement Regulation table as amended: the numerical schedule entry change implies a recalibration of the infringement fine amount available as a non‑court disposal for the s 30C-related offence.

Compliance and enforcement burden

• Enforcement burden falls on police and persons appointed under s 56 (new s 55A), which will require resourcing and coordination between event organisers and enforcement agencies. Major event organisers may be required to evidence organiser approvals to authorise resales in controlled areas (new s 31A(2)).
• The Bill introduces penalties that scale significantly between individuals and corporations: 135 penalty units for individuals, 680 for corporations. The Bill leaves the conversion of penalty units to dollar amounts to the penalty unit statutory regime and to the administrative use of infringement notices under the regulation.

The Bill therefore uses both criminal sanctions and infringement-notice mechanisms, specified authorised persons for enforcement, and regulatory schedule adjustments to shape how breaches will be processed outside and inside court.

The Bill inserts and amends provisions that explicitly cross-reference and interact with multiple existing statutory regimes. Below are the principal interactions and the mechanisms through which the Bill engages with other laws.

Environmental law

• The amendment to s 30A of the Major Sports Facilities Act 2001 expressly connects compliance with prescribed noise conditions for special events to the Environmental Protection Act 1994 (cl 29). New s 30A(2B) states that the use of a major sports facility for the special event is taken to be in compliance with the Environmental Protection Act 1994, section 319, to the extent that the general environmental duty applies in relation to noise from the use of the facility for the special event. That creates a statutory partial override or deeming of compliance with the general environmental duty for noise where the prescribed conditions are complied with.
• Section 30A also lists as relevant instruments the Liquor Act 1992 and local laws to the extent they apply to noise from the facility’s use for a special event (cl 29, new s 30A(4)(d)-(e)). The Bill notes the Local Government Act 2009, section 27 as relevant (cl 29, note).

Corporations law

• The Bill adopts disqualification criteria referencing the Corporations Act: a person is disqualified if disqualified from managing corporations because of Corporations Act part 2D.6 (new s 17AA(c), cl 22). This imports federal corporate disqualification consequences into the eligibility rules for directors of major sports facility boards.

State penalties and enforcement regulation

• The Bill amends the State Penalties Enforcement Regulation 2014 schedule so that the Major Sports Facilities Act resale offence entry is moved from one infringement category to another and removes an entry (cl 35). This changes the intersection between the Act and the infringement notice framework, altering the non‑court fine amounts and the persons authorised to serve them.

Major Events Act 2014 and Major Sports Facilities Act 2001 cross-references

• The Bill modifies the Major Events Act 2014 s 12 and s 17 structures, changing how part 5 provisions that apply to a major event, major event area or controlled area are prescribed and the period limits for those prescriptions (cl 3 and cl 7). This tightens the statutory linkage between the identification of event areas and the period during which event provisions apply.
• It amends Major Events Act authorised person definition and the dictionary (new s 55A and sch 1 amendment, cl 13-14), which interacts with any Act powers that reference authorised persons for event enforcement.

Local government and licencing regimes

• Section 30A’s express mentions of local laws and the Liquor Act means that prescribed special-event use of major sports facilities has a specific carve-out or interplay with those regimes for noise compliance (cl 29). Local authorities’ noise or licencing conditions may be relevant to the prescribed conditions that, if complied with, produce the deeming in new s 30A(2B).

Aviation and unmanned aircraft rules

• The Bill defines “drone” and inserts it into the Major Sports Facilities Act aircraft definition (cl 31). That interacts with any existing Commonwealth aviation regulation (Civil Aviation Safety Authority) and with part 4B of the Major Sports Facilities Act where drones/aircraft are referenced. The Bill’s changes alter the internal Act’s coverage of aerial devices for events, though the Bill does not displace federal aviation safety law.

Appointment and administrative law

• The Minister’s role in recommending directors to the Governor in Council (new s 12(2)) and the Governor in Council’s appointment function interact with executive government appointment practices and established administrative law principles concerning public appointments. The Bill makes statutory the requirement that the Minister be satisfied as to candidates’ qualifications or experience before recommending (new s 12(3), cl 17), which is an administrative precondition for recommendation.

Transitional application and continuing officeholders

• The Bill contains transitional provisions that take officeholders under former provisions into the new provisions and make the new disqualification and vacancy rules apply to existing directors (cl 32, ss 88-90). Those transitional clauses interact with continuity of governance and any contractual or statutory tenure expectations.

Notes on boundaries and limits

• The Bill repeatedly uses the term “major event”, “major event area” or “controlled area” as defined or prescribed under the Major Events Act. The scope of these terms and the geographic and temporal limits are driven by prescribing instruments under s 12 and the ultimate cap that any prescribed period must not be longer than the major event period (cl 3, new s 12(4)). The Bill therefore relies on the existing Act’s definitions and the capacity of regulations or declarations to set area and period boundaries.

In sum, the Bill is designed to operate alongside and sometimes to qualify the application of environmental, licencing and local government laws relating to noise and special events; to integrate federal corporate disqualification standards; to rely on the State Penalties Enforcement Regulation to determine infringement notice mechanics; and to situate decision-making power about board membership and event-area approvals within state executive appointment and Ministerial recommendation processes.

This Bill itself is an amending instrument for multiple Acts and a regulation. The Bill, titled the Major Sports Facilities and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025, states that it amends the Major Events Act 2014, the Major Sports Facilities Act 2001, the State Penalties Enforcement Regulation 2014 and the legislation mentioned in schedule 1 (cl 2, cl 15, cl 34, cl 36). The short title provides the future Act name (s 1).

Major Events Act 2014 (Part 2 of the Bill)

• Clause 3 amends s 12 (Prescribing event as major event), changing the text of subsections and inserting a new subsection (4) that caps the duration of any prescribed part 5 provisions: "the period prescribed must not be longer than the major event period." This replaces a previous drafting that listed which provisions apply and tightens the temporal boundary (cl 3).
• Clauses 4 and 5 insert the words "the end of" into ss 15(3) and 16(4) respectively, modifying timing language for constructing works and temporary works/maintenance.
• Clause 6 changes the heading of part 5 division 1 to "major event provisions apply".
• Clause 7 replaces s 17 with a new text that clarifies when provisions of part 5 apply , only if prescribed under s 12 as applying to the major event/area and for the period prescribed (cl 7).
• Clauses 8-11 make place- and price-related amendments: s 22 is extended to major event areas; s 30's heading and scope are expanded to cover road or public land in controlled or major event areas; s 31 is replaced to insert a 10% cap on resale price with specified penalties; s 31A is inserted to ban resale within controlled or major event areas without organiser approval (cl 8-11).
• Clause 12-14 reorganise division headings and insert new s 55A defining authorised persons; sch 1's dictionary entry for authorised person is replaced to refer to s 55A (cl 12-14).

Major Sports Facilities Act 2001 (Part 3 of the Bill)

• Clause 15 declares the Act being amended.
• Clauses 16-26 restructure part 3 into subdivisions related to establishment, composition and criminal-history matters; they relocate and reword s 12, renumber divisions (cl 16-26).
• Clause 17 amends and relocates s 12 to make directors appointed by Governor in Council on Ministerial recommendation and prescribes grounds of qualifications/experience for recommendation (new s 12(2)-(3)).
• Clauses 18-26 change headings, omit ss 13 and 14, change terminology (e.g. "Term" for s 15, "Conditions" for s 16), replace s 17 with chair/deputy chair provisions, and insert disqualification, resignation and vacancy rules (new ss 17AA-17AC; cl 19-23). Meetings rules are recast (new s 21; cl 25). Clauses 27-31 adjust formalities such as judicial notice and authentication to include deputy chairperson and expand s 30A and 30C and define "drone" in s 30D (cl 27-31).
• Clause 32 inserts Division 9 Transitional provisions (ss 88-90) to apply new governance rules to existing officeholders.
• Clause 33 amends schedule 2 dictionary entries to include board meeting, chairperson, deputy chairperson definitions and drone reference.

State Penalties Enforcement Regulation 2014 (Part 4)

• Clause 34-35 amend the regulation: they change the schedule entries for section 30C of the Major Sports Facilities Act, replacing the infringement category number and removing the entry for s 30C(2). They also remove a cross-reference from the authorised person entry for service of infringement notices (cl 35).

Other amendments (Part 5 and Schedule 1)

• Clause 36 and Schedule 1 contain a number of technical and editorial amendments to the Major Sports Facilities Act 2001 and the Major Sports Facilities Regulation 2014. These include inserting a note about application of the Financial Accountability Act 2009 and the Statutory Bodies Financial Arrangements Act 1982 (schedule 1 item 1), renaming references to “police commissioner” and converting “division” to “subdivision” where applicable, aligning headings to “board meetings”, and adjusting cross-references for s 30A(5) in the regulation (Schedule 1 items 2-8 and Major Sports Facilities Regulation item 1).

Transitional mechanics

• The Bill expressly provides for a seamless carry-over of chairpersons into the new chair provisions (cl 32, s 89) and applies the new disqualification and vacancy rules to directors holding office after commencement, regardless of appointment date (cl 32, s 90).

Drafting and completeness notes

• The Bill replaces and renumbers several sections and subsections across both Acts. One replacement in cl 30 that amends s 30C contains an insertion that appears truncated in the provided source text (cl 30(4)). That creates a drafting and implementation risk that may require clarification before proclamation or in regulations.

The Bill is presented as a package of discrete amendments rather than the first instance of a recurring legislative reform program. The transitional provisions show an intent to make the new governance rules apply promptly to sitting board members.

The Bill text supplied contains no references to litigation or judicial authorities, and it does not reproduce any case law or prior judicial rulings. The Bill therefore contains no litigation history within the source material itself. There are no cases named, no references to prior judicial interpretation of the provisions amended, and no indication in the text of any pending litigation that the amendments respond to.

Because the Bill relies on statutory concepts that have been subject to litigation in other contexts (for example, enforcement powers exercised by authorised persons, or the constitutional reach of state regulation of commerce), practitioners should note that any disputes arising under the new provisions would proceed against the text as amended. The Bill does not include transitional protected conduct clauses other than the governance transitional provisions for officeholders (cl 32). There is therefore the potential for new litigation testing the scope of the new resale prohibitions, the territorial application of controlled areas/major event areas, and the interplay between the noise-deeming provision in s 30A(2B) and the Environmental Protection Act general environmental duty. However such litigation, if any, would arise after the Bill’s commencement; the source material contains no litigated interpretation to report.

In short: no litigation history is included in the Bill; any litigation-related risk can only be inferred from the substantive changes made and standard legal challenges that follow from enforcement of new criminal prohibitions and administrative delegation. The Bill itself does not reference cases.

This Bill contains several drafting, implementation and enforcement features that create practical and legal uncertainties or that require specific operational steps. The points below draw directly on the Bill text and highlight areas that merit attention.

1. Truncated or unclear amendment to s 30C (Major Sports Facilities Act)

• Clause 30(4) purports to replace section 30C(3) from “Subsection (1)” to “by or from” with new text beginning “Subsection (1) does not apply to the resale of a ticket to a major sports facility event by” and then the supplied source stops. The provided Bill text does not show the rest of that inserted text (cl 30(4)). This leaves unclear which resales are intended to be exempted and creates an implementation risk until the full text is clarified. Practitioners and enforcers should treat this as a drafting gap that must be resolved before the provision is relied upon in enforcement or compliance advice.

2. Precision of the timing insertions in ss 15 and 16

• Clauses 4 and 5 insert the words “the end of” after the phrase “practicable after” in ss 15(3) and 16(4). The Bill does not explicitly restate what “the end of” refers to in those subsections in the inserted text alone. The likely referent is the end of the major event period, but the Bill does not reprint the full operative sentence in context here. The effective meaning will depend on reading the amended subsections in situ; there is modest drafting risk that the timing reference could be ambiguous if surrounding text is not read carefully.

3. Organiser discretion and evidentiary burden for written approvals

• New s 31A(2) provides an exception where the seller “has the written approval of the major event organiser.” The Bill does not prescribe any format, duration, content or process for that written approval. That leaves event organisers discretion but creates evidentiary uncertainty for sellers and enforcement officers: how will a written approval be authenticated, what must it contain, and what limits (if any) apply to organiser approvals? Event organisers may implement administrative processes to manage approvals to avoid ad hoc disputes.

4. Enforcement agent scope narrowed

• By defining “authorised person” narrowly to police officers and persons appointed under s 56 (new s 55A, cl 13), the Bill limits which officials can exercise enforcement powers under the Major Events Act. The State Penalties Enforcement Regulation changes to authorised person entries (cl 35(3)) further adjust who may serve infringement notices. Local governments, venue security staff, or other quasi‑public enforcement agents may therefore find their previous roles limited unless they are appointed under s 56. This may create resource and coordination gaps at events unless appointments are managed proactively.

5. Penalty-unit scale and disparity between individuals and corporations

• The maximum penalties for resale offences are 135 penalty units for individuals and 680 penalty units for corporations (new s 31 and s 31A; cl 10-11). The Bill does not translate penalty units into dollar amounts; interpretation depends on the penalty unit value current at the time of enforcement. Practitioners should note the substantial scale difference between individual and corporate maxima and prepare for corporate risk exposure.

6. Interaction with Environmental Protection Act 1994

• New s 30A(2B) deems compliance with prescribed noise conditions to be compliance with the Environmental Protection Act 1994 general environmental duty “to the extent” it applies to noise for the special event (cl 29). The phrase “to the extent” creates possible scope disputes where other environmental obligations apply. Local authorities and environmental regulators may need to agree on which conditions qualify and whether those prescribed conditions can authoritatively be treated as meeting the general duty in all practicable respects.

7. Ministerial discretion and ministerial satisfaction test

• The Minister may recommend a director only if satisfied the person has one of the enumerated qualifications/experience or other relevant knowledge (new s 12(3)(a)-(b), cl 17). The statutory test rests on the Minister’s subjective satisfaction, constrained only by the wording of the listed criteria plus a residual "other knowledge or experience the Minister considers relevant." That leaves significant executive discretion which may attract administrative review litigation if the decision-making process lacks evident rational basis.

8. Transitional application to existing officeholders

• The transitional provisions take existing chairpersons into the new chair regime and apply new disqualification and vacancy sections to directors holding office after commencement (cl 32, ss 89-90). That may unexpectedly disqualify existing directors whose circumstances meet the new statutory disqualification criteria, potentially creating sudden vacancies and the need for replacement appointments.

9. Drone definition breadth

• The Bill defines "drone" as any remotely piloted or programmable flying device not capable of transporting a person (cl 31). This captures a broad range of unmanned aerial vehicles. The implications for event organisers and operators (including potential restrictions under part 4B) require the drafting and enforcement authorities to specify operational limits and enforcement processes where drones are in play.

Each of these points requires operational attention , procedural rules, approval templates, appointment processes, and coordination among police, event organisers and venue operators , to avoid enforcement disputes and compliance failures.

This section sets out concrete steps for different actors to comply with the Bill as drafted, referencing the amended or inserted provisions where relevant.

For ticket sellers, resellers and primary ticketing platforms

• Do not price above the statutory cap: Ensure any resale listing for a major event does not list a price greater than 10% above the original sale price (new s 31(1); cl 10). Adjust listing logic, API restrictions and seller terms to block higher prices.
• Avoid reselling within controlled or major event areas unless authorised: Do not sell or offer for sale tickets inside a controlled area or major event area unless you hold written approval from the major event organiser (new s 31A(1)-(2); cl 11). Implement geo‑fencing and point-of-sale location checks on mobile apps and seller portals to prevent transactions originating within a controlled/major event area.
• Keep documentation: If you have written approval from the major event organiser under s 31A(2), retain the written approval and any identification logs; the Bill creates a substantive exception that will require production of the approval in any enforcement action.

For major event organisers and venue operators

• Establish written approval process: Create a formal, signed and dated written approval template for resale within controlled or major event areas (new s 31A(2); cl 11). Include clear seller identity, ticket identifiers, scope (time and place), any conditions, and revocation terms. Keep copies and publish guidance for sellers.
• Coordinate with enforcement authorities: Work with police and any persons to be appointed under s 56 to ensure they understand event boundaries and organiser-approved resales (new s 55A; cl 13). Ensure event maps delineate “major event area” and “controlled area”.
• Update ticketing terms and conditions: Amend primary ticketing terms to reflect the new price cap and to require resale approval for sales within event areas. Ensure purchaser communications explain restrictions to reduce inadvertent breach by ticket holders.
• Implement on-site compliance procedures: Use security and concierge staff to check for unauthorised resale activity within controlled/major event areas. Given that authorised persons are police or s 56 appointees, coordinate evidence collection and handover processes.
• Noise compliance documentation: If relying on s 30A noise deeming (cl 29), ensure the facility complies with prescribed conditions and document monitoring and mitigation measures (sound checks, decibel records, compliance reporting) so that the use can be taken to comply with the Environmental Protection Act general duty as intended.

For major sports facility boards and prospective directors

• Check eligibility before recommendation: Prospective candidates should ensure they meet the qualifications/experience listed in new s 12(3) or have other knowledge the Minister may consider relevant (cl 17). Legal counsel should confirm there are no disqualifying conditions under new s 17AA (unspent indictable convictions, insolvent under administration, Corporations Act disqualification).
• Plan for chair and deputy appointment terms: Ensure that instruments of appointment for chair and deputy state terms that do not exceed the director term (new s 17(4)-(5); cl 22). Boards should create succession plans anticipating possible resignation under s 17AB or vacancy under s 17AC.
• Update governance documents and meeting procedures: Align board meeting notices, presiding officer rules and authentication processes with renumbered and updated provisions (new s 21, cl 25; amendments to ss 28-29, cl 27-28). Ensure delegated authorities reference the new legislative section numbers.
• Conduct criminal-history checks: Because of the criminal-history subdivision insertion (cl 23), boards should institute pre-appointment checks to identify disqualifying convictions and ensure compliance with the new disqualification rule.

For police and persons appointed under section 56

• Understand authorised-person scope: Only police officers and persons appointed under s 56 are authorised persons under the Major Events Act for enforcement purposes (new s 55A; cl 13). Ensure appointment records under s 56 are current and that appointees understand the scope of their enforcement powers and limitations.
• Enforcement evidence protocols: Develop written procedures for evidence capture for resale breaches, including digital screenshots, geolocation metadata, transaction records, and seller identification. For on-the-spot infringements where the State Penalties Enforcement Regulation allows an infringement notice (as affected by cl 35), ensure authorised persons follow the updated schedule and service rules.

For local governments and environmental regulators

• Review special-event noise prescriptions: If a major sports facility uses the s 30A pathway to treat compliance as satisfying the Environmental Protection Act general duty for noise (new s 30A(2A)-(2B); cl 29), local governments should confirm what conditions will be prescribed and whether their existing licencing or local-law conditions will be superseded or remain complementary. Agree on monitoring standards and documentation that will evidence compliance.

For commercial vendors, street sellers and venue contractors

• Do not sell goods or tickets on road or public land where located within a controlled or major event area (amendment to s 30; cl 9). Confirm whether your usual vending locations will fall within any controlled or major event area during event periods and re-locate operations or obtain organiser approval if relevant.

For legal and compliance teams

• Update policy and training: Amend compliance manuals, staff training and vendor contracts to reflect the 10% cap, the spatial resale rules, the enforcement agent definitions and the changes to governance rules for boards.
• Review contractual clauses: Revisit venue hire agreements, ticketing distribution contracts and reseller agreements to incorporate the new resale restrictions, organiser approval processes and indemnities for breaches.
• Monitor the State Penalties Enforcement Regulation change: Translate the new numerical schedule entry into dollar infringement amounts to advise clients on the likely monetary exposure from infringement notices (cl 35). Also note the removal of the schedule entry for s 30C(2).

Finally, because the Bill introduces substantial board governance changes and some drafting ambiguities (see the Gotchas section), advise clients that operational and compliance processes should be reviewed in the period before and after commencement and that authorities may issue guidance, regulations or appointment notices to fill procedural gaps.