QUEENLAND, Australia (CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — In a move that has been heralded by Australia's Major Sports unions, Queensland has proposed legislation that would levy significant fines against people caught scalping tickets.
The proposed changes would target both scalpers and those who patronize such ticket hawks. Fines for scalpers would be steep, $1,500 dollars (Australian) and $375 for those who purchase illicit tickets.
Queensland Premier Peter Beattie told the Herald Sun that "This is about targeting those scalpers who are profiteering by selling tickets at prices well above what they originally paid for them."
Online auction sites such as eBay have become increasingly more popular for ticket transactions in recent years and because of the nuances of the current laws, event promoters can only take action if an image of the tickets in question are used.
A spokesman for eBay told the Herald Sun that they would need to consider its options and that the proposed changes were "Bitterly disappointing." – CelebrityAccess Staff Writers.
