Editorial: MP a silly big hypocrite

While it was unlikely to have been done with any malice, the decision by Trevor Mallard to put his tickets to a concert on Trade Me was undoubtedly dumb.

No one can be blamed for trying to make a buck in these hard times, but when you're the MP who initiated an Act that allows scalpers to be fined up to $5000 you should at least be wary of how any skyrocketing bidding wars on your stuff will look at the end of the day.

Trevor Mallard has offered to pay back the teenage girl who forked out $656 for his four Homegrown tickets that would have originally sold for $380.

She's nobly declined, probably because she obviously really wanted the tickets, and requested the profit go to a charity.

As minister for sport and recreation, the Labour MP initiated the Major Events Management Act 2007, which tightened the rules around on-selling tickets to major events and gave judges the ability to fine those caught doing it.

His views on the matter were made clear at the time.

"As for the proposed ban on scalping tickets for prices more than their face value - I think most people desperate for a ticket to a Rugby World Cup game would be frustrated, along with the event organisers, to see tickets being on-sold at levels designed only to make huge profits for the seller," he wrote at the time.

I've had items listed on Trade Me that have sold for more than I thought they would and perhaps the same happened to Mr Mallard. But given his history with attempting to get scalpers punished you'd hope he had some knowledge of how online auctions work.

And given his previous strong feelings on those who make money off tickets you'd think he would know there's the potential for the bidding to get high. Especially when there's strong demand for something. Tickets to Homegrown had sold out.

And surely the thought ran through Mr Mallard's head as he put the tickets up that making a few quick bucks could end up with him looking like a giant hypocrite. Maybe he thought no one would ever find out.

As the Prime Minister said - "it's probably a bit embarrassing".