In the most significant overhaul to their fee structure in over a decade, Victoria Police will be charging significantly more to provide their services at major events across the state starting from January 1, 2025. The increased fees will impact a wide range of events, from premier sporting fixtures like AFL matches and the Australian Open tennis tournament, to music festivals and community events.
New Planning Fees and Increased Hourly Rates
Under the new fee schedule, event organizers will now be charged a planning fee of $1,372 for major community events, while music festivals, motor racing, and horse racing events will incur a $686 planning fee, plus an additional $343 for each day the event spans beyond one day.
For marquee sports matches, police will charge a $686 planning fee, while regular season games will attract a $343 fee. These planning fees are on top of the increased hourly rates for the use of police resources at events:
- Police dogs: $39.20 per hour
- Mounted police: $65.30 per hour
- Drones: $147.00 per hour
- Anti-drone technology: $440.00 per hour
- Police helicopters: $10,217 per hour
Recouping Costs and Reducing Taxpayer Burden
In a statement, a Victoria Police spokesperson explained that the fee hikes, which follow an approximately 20% increase to the cost of officers at private events in mid-2024, are aimed at ensuring “taxpayers aren’t unfairly subsidising additional police attendance at commercial events where organisers stand to make a profit.” The spokesperson emphasized that the fees are designed purely to recover costs incurred by Victoria Police.
“This is the first time in 10 years Victoria Police has conducted a thorough review of its fees and charges.”
– Victoria Police spokesperson
Despite this, the force clarified that they will not charge for resources deployed in response to unforeseen emergencies at events. The Chief Commissioner will also retain the power to waive or reduce fees for charity events or in cases where the costs may threaten an event’s financial viability.
Event Industry Concerns
The new fees have raised concerns among event industry stakeholders, with groups like the Australian Festival Association, Midsumma Festival, TEG Live and Tennis Australia making submissions during the 2023 consultation process. They warned that the increased costs could impact the financial viability of events, potentially leading to higher ticket prices or fewer events being staged.
However, the Department of Justice and Community Safety, which oversaw the consultation, noted that the new fee structure still remains lower than those charged in New South Wales, where police were accused of “price gouging” and jeopardizing the viability of music festivals in 2023 due to high fees.
As Victoria’s event calendar gets into full swing in 2025, the real-world impacts of these increased police fees will become apparent. Event organizers, attendees, and the wider community will be closely watching to see how this major overhaul affects one of the state’s most vibrant and economically important sectors.
