The Victorian Supreme Court ordered the Australian Grand Prix Corporation to pay 2.84 million Australian dollars in damages, interest, and costs to World Touring Melbourne after finding the organizers misled the promoter by implying a formal directive from Victoria’s chief health officer to cancel the Robbie Williams concert.

The cancellation occurred just hours before gates were to open at Melbourne’s Albert Park on March 13, 2020, due to COVID-19 concerns.

An appeal to overturn that judgment was rejected in full by a three-judge Court of Appeal, which upheld the lower court’s decision and found no grounds to overturn the presiding ruling.

Evidence showed Victoria’s chief health officer Brett Sutton had only recommended cancellation or making the event spectator-free, and had not issued a directive against the concert.

There was no formal directive from Dr. Sutton to cancel; he supported cancellation in text messages but left the final decision to the organizers.

Court House Capital, the promoter’s financier, framed the case as a vindication of World Touring Melbourne’s position and highlighted the burden of litigating against a government-backed entity.

The Court of Appeal rejected all nine grounds of appeal from the Grand Prix, including assertions of trial error regarding reliance on representations.

Justice Clyde Croft previously found the Grand Prix deceived the promoters by suggesting a government directive when none existed, a ruling later upheld on appeal.

The 2024 ruling held that the organizers knew the cited email did not reflect actual government guidance and misrepresented the health-advice context.

Other weekend events, such as National Rugby League fixtures and a Sidney Myer Music Bowl concert, proceeded, underscoring the contrast with the Grand Prix cancellation.

The Court of Appeal unanimously upheld the Victorian Supreme Court’s 2024 ruling against the Grand Prix organizers.

The Court of Appeal dismissed the Grand Prix’s appeal, confirming misdirection influenced the promoter’s decision-making.