KEY POINTS:
The gloss of the Warriors' home playoff on Friday was sadly tarnished by the ticket scalpers, who continue to operate with impunity.
The Major Events Management Act which passed into law last month, bans - among other things - ticket scalping on pain of a fine of up to $5000. But crucially, the law does not apply to all tickets: Cabinet gets to decide what is a major event and the law was to satisfy a condition of our hosting the 2011 Rugby World Cup. Other international tournaments are also likely to be designated "major" - but the Warriors' first home finals fixture in five years didn't qualify.
Sports Minister Trevor Mallard admits the move is designed to ensure that this country is seen as a "viable and attractive" host, but the law, which also defends sponsors' marketing rights, is plainly aimed at the protection of multinational corporations rather than punters. The minister should explain why Rugby World Cup match tickets are more deserving of legal protection than those for Friday's league match.
Scalpers claim the entitlement of a free market and say no one is forced to buy their wares. But that is glib: like any other black marketeers, they are predators who take advantage of a scarcity that they are partly responsible for creating. Limits on numbers of tickets sold in one transaction; bans on internet auctioning of tickets; and the possibility of personalising tickets so they cannot be onsold without authorisation are all worth exploring. But the least that legislators owe us is a clear statement that ticket scalping is wrong, no matter what event is involved, because it hurts ticket buyers.
