Promoter wins court battle over cancelled Robbie Williams gig
Australian Grand Prix organisers have failed to overturn a $2.84 million compensation order to a music promoter over a COVID-era Robbie Williams concert cancellation.
In a recent court ruling, Australian Grand Prix organisers have been ordered to pay $2.84 million in compensation to a music promoter for the cancellation of a Robbie Williams concert due to COVID-19 concerns. The concert was scheduled to take place on March 13, 2020, as part of the F1 Grand Prix event in Melbourne, but was abruptly cancelled hours before it was set to commence.
The promoter, World Touring Melbourne, successfully sued the Grand Prix organisers in 2024 for breach of contract, arguing that the concert was cancelled due to the promoter's claim of receiving misleading information about government health advice. The key point of contention was whether the concert was cancelled based on the advice of then Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton or if the decision was ultimately left to the organisers' discretion.
In a unanimous decision, a panel of three Court of Appeal justices upheld a 2024 ruling from the Victorian Supreme Court, refusing to allow the race organisers to appeal the decision. Justice Clyde Croft ruled that the organisers had falsely claimed Sutton had directed the cancellation when no such advice had been given. The judge ordered the Australian Grand Prix Corporation to pay the $2.84 million in damages to World Touring Melbourne for the loss of earnings.
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