Australian Grand Prix fined $2.8m after Robbie Williams concert abruptly cancelled due to Covid

Robbie Williams’ last-minute concert cancellation will cost the Australian Grand Prix $2.8 million after a judge ruled he was misled over health advice.

The Australian Grand Prix has been ordered to pay $2.84 million to a promotion company for cancelling a Robbie Williams concert.

The 2020 Formula 1 event at Melbourne’s Albert Park was cancelled just before the gates were due to open on March 13 due to the looming threat of COVID-19.

Williams was due to perform at Lakeside Stadium the following day as part of the four-day festival, but that concert was also cancelled and ticket holders were given refunds.

Live music promoter World Touring Melbourne claimed the concert was cancelled based on misleading health advice.

The company sued the Australian Grand Prix in the Supreme Court of Victoria, seeking $8 million in damages.

In a judgment delivered on Friday morning, Judge Clyde Croft acknowledged that the Grand Prix organisers had been misleading.

Event organisers misled promoters by claiming that Victoria’s then-chief health officer, Brett Sutton, had ordered the concert not to go ahead as planned, the judge found.

Robbie Williams pictured at the 2019 AFL Grand Final

Dr Sutton instead texted organisers at 4.25pm ​​on 13 March to say the decision to cancel the concert was ultimately theirs.

Justice Croft has ordered the Australian Grand Prix to pay $2.84 million in damages to World Touring Melbourne for loss of revenue.