Australian promoter fined for cancelled concert

The promoter of the Australian Grand Prix must pay a fine of $2.84 million for cancelling the Robbie Williams concert, which was due to take place during the race weekend in Melbourne in March 2020.

The Formula 1 race was then cancelled at the last minute, as the Covid-19 pandemic had already begun in the world and the fact that the Australian Grand Prix would not take place became known only hours before the start of Friday practice.

The authorities of the Australian state of Victoria then decided that the race in Albert Park could still go ahead, but without spectators. The fans were completely stunned when they entered the track on Friday morning, but were not allowed to enter.

But in the end, not only was the Australian Grand Prix cancelled, but also the entire extensive cultural program of the weekend, including the Robbie Williams concert that was scheduled for Saturday evening.

Following this, Australian company World Touring Melbourne, which organised the famous British artist’s tour, sued Formula 1 race promoter, Australian Grand Prix Corporation (AGPC), seeking $8 million in damages.

The claimants alleged that a misinterpretation of information contained in correspondence between Victorian authorities and the race promoter led to the cancellation of the concert.

The fact is that on March 13, the AGPC received instructions from the state authorities, the essence of which was that the concert was at their discretion, but Andrew Westacott, the then CEO of the AGPC, informed World Touring Melbourne that the concert would be cancelled.

The case dragged on for three and a half years, but on Friday morning the Supreme Court of Victoria delivered its verdict: Justice Clyde Croft ruled that the Grand Prix organisers had misled the concert organisers and therefore had to pay a fine. However, the compensation amount was reduced from 8 to almost 3 million dollars.

Incidentally, the ban on holding mass events in the state of Victoria only officially came into effect on March 16, i.e. just two days after the date of the planned Robbie Williams concert, which again became an irrefutable argument in court.