Perth media reports another Western Australian ticketing 'scandal'

Amid ongoing scrutiny of sponsorships by Western Australian Government departments and agencies and their receipt of event tickets, Perth Now published its latest ‘exclusive’ at the weekend - Tens of thousands of tickets go to WA government agencies and state corporations.

The news item details the receipt of event tickets by government agencies and state-owned corporations in the past two years.

The article refers to:

Tourism WA receiving more than 6,200 event tickets since the start of the 2013 financial year, including 1,268 Hopman Cup silver and gold passes, estimated to be worth $37,290.

Water Corporation receiving 1,514 general admission tickets and 26 VIP double passes to Community Cinema’s Waterwise La Grassiere season in the five months to April this year.

Western Australian Government owned power corporations Western Power and Synergy having received hundreds of box tickets to cricket and AFL games respectively through deals with the Perth Scorchers, Fremantle Dockers and West Coast Eagles since July 2013.

Lotterywest’s purchase of 963 tickets worth $27,129 to events including the WA Symphony Orchestra, WA Ballet’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and WA’s Opera’s The Barber of Seville since 2013. Of these, 232 were used by Lotterywest staff, the board and their partners while Lotterywest staff also received 187 double passes for a Perth International Arts Festival film festival as part of a sponsorship deal.

Earlier this year, the board of health agency Healthway resigned over use of their use of tickets at Healthway sponsored events, while board members of VenuesWest were also criticised for handing tickets for a Katie Perry concert to family members.

Other agencies that have received tickets include Racing and Wagering WA, the Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority and Fremantle Port Authority.

Gold Corporation, which runs Perth Mint, previously made use of WASO tickets, but returned its 2015 season tickets just weeks after a report by Western Australia’s Public Sector Commissioner (PSC) into Healthway.

Following the latest report, Western Australian Premier Colin Barnett advised Perth Now of his “concerns” about the extent to which staff at public sector agencies access tickets.

The article reported that Premier Barnett had asked the PSC to assess the new information, wanting assessment of “the nature of and basis for the acquisition and provision by some public sector agencies of certain corporate hospitality.”

Premier Barnett added “the establishment and maintenance of contacts through attendance at and sponsorship of arts and sporting events is legitimate and necessary for many agencies.

“What is at issue is the extent of this, and the rationale for any involvement by some agencies.”

The matter of ‘sponsorship for tickets’ has been an interesting issue in Perth sport and entertainment in recent months. Given Perth’s geographical isolation and small corporate sponsorship, backing by Government departments and agencies is often a vital element in the viability of sporting teams, events, concerts and festivals.

In addition, while these Government departments and agencies may receive large numbers of tickets, they are often for difficult to sell events or sessions – day time sessions at the Hopman Cup for example.

In response to Perth Now’s claims, Tourism WA Chief Executive Stephanie Buckland said out of 650 gold and silver 2015 Hopman Cup tickets allocated, 32 were given to staff for “hosting stakeholders”.

The remaining 618 tickets were used by key stakeholders such as industry bodies, tourism associations, competition and prize winners, sporting bodies, accommodation providers and other government agencies.

Water Corporation General Manager Communications Catherine Ferrari said the body was “reviewing its partnership program” and the findings of the review would be looked at by the PSC while a Lotterywest spokeswoman said “a more modest approach to hospitality” would be taken in future.

Perth Mint said Gold Corporation had decided not to accept any future WASO tickets after PSC “communications” with agencies.

Click here to read Perth Now's report Tens of thousands of tickets go to WA government agencies and state corporations.

Images: WA Symphony Orchestra (top) and Kate Perry (below). Images used for illustrative purposes only.

5th March 2015 - NEW QUESTIONS OVER TICKETS MISUSE IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA

20th February 2015 - WESTERN AUSTRALIA’S HEALTHWAY BOARD AND STAFF IN CORPORATE TICKETING RORT 

15th October 2013 - CRICKET AUSTRALIA CRITICISED FOR REJECTING ANTI-ALCOHOL ADVERTISING IN DOMESTIC ONE-DAY COMPETITION