- Warning to avoid unofficial resale platforms when purchasing Cricket Australia tickets
- Ashes tickets listed up to 400 per cent above WA's legal resale cap on unauthorised sites
- Offenders can face infringement notices ranging from $2,000 to $20,000
The Cook Government is urging cricket lovers to play it safe when buying tickets to the Ashes series at Optus Stadium from 21 to 25 November 2025, following concerns about inflated prices on unofficial resale platforms.
Proactive checks by the Department of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety's Consumer Protection division in the lead-up to the event have found listings advertising tickets at up to 400 per cent above the legal limit.
Under Western Australian law, tickets to concerts and events must not be resold for more than 110 per cent of their original value. Advertisements must also clearly state the original ticket price and location, including section, row and seat number.
Tickets purchased outside authorised channels may be cancelled given Ticketmaster is the authorised seller for this event.
To ensure a secure purchase, consumers should visit the Cricket Australia website and buy directly from Ticketmaster.
Those wishing to buy resale tickets are strongly encouraged to only use Ticketmaster Resale as this is the only approved resale platform.
The WA Government can issue $2,000 infringement notices for ticket scalping offences. Courts may impose penalties of up to $20,000 for individuals and up to $100,000 for those using bots to bulk-buy tickets.
Publishers of advertisements that breach WA's Ticket Scalping Act 2021 can also be fined up to $20,000 if they fail to promptly remove unlawful ticket listings upon being notified.
Suspected breaches of ticket scalping laws should be reported to Consumer Protection by emailing consumer@lgirs.wa.gov.au with as much detail as possible, including screenshots of the advertisements, any weblinks, and advertisement identification or reference numbers.
More information is available on the Department's ticket scalping and reselling webpage.
Comments attributed to Commerce Minister Dr Tony Buti:
"Major sporting events like this are important for Western Australia, but their popularity creates an opportunity for ticket scalpers to take advantage of fans. We're concerned people are at risk of losing their money if they purchase resale Ashes tickets through unauthorised sources.
"There's a real chance these tickets could be cancelled, as Ticketmaster is the authorised seller for the Ashes series in Perth.
"Our advice is clear - only buy tickets from official sellers promoted by Cricket Australia, the venue and in event advertising."
