Court backs payout for axed Robbie Williams concert

The Australian Grand Prix Corporation has been ordered to pay $2.84 million in compensation to music promoter World Touring Melbourne following the cancellation of a 2020 Robbie Williams concert due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A unanimous three-judge panel from the Court of Appeal upheld the 2024 Victorian Supreme Court ruling on Monday, refusing the Grand Prix organizers' attempt to appeal the decision.

The concert, scheduled for the following day at Lakeside Stadium, was cancelled hours before gates opened on Friday due to the looming threat of the virus. Williams, known for hits like Let Me Entertain You and Angels, was set to perform as part of the event but his concert was also cancelled. The promoter successfully sued the organizers in 2024, alleging the concert was cancelled because the corporation provided misleading information about government health advice.

The judge found that the organizers had deceived the promoter by claiming that then-chief health officer Brett Sutton had directed the cancellation, when no such advice had been given. The court ordered the Australian Grand Prix Corporation to pay the damages for the loss of earnings suffered by the promoter. The appeal justices rejected the Grand Prix's nine grounds of appeal, including the trial judge's error in finding that World Touring Melbourne relied on the corporation's representations.

Court House Capital, which financially backed the promoter's litigation, highlighted the high cost of suing a government corporation with taxpayer-funded lawyers for years. The court's judgment is seen as a major victory for World Touring Melbourne and a vindication of their position throughout the proceedings.