Dendy Cinema, a chain owned by actor Mel Gibson, has incurred a significant fine of $19,800 after the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) issued an infringement notice regarding pricing transparency. The ACCC alleges that the cinema failed to clearly display the total price of movie tickets, including all mandatory fees, until the latter stages of the purchasing process.
Catriona Lowe, Deputy Chair of the ACCC, emphasised the importance of transparent pricing, stating that when businesses only show part of the price upfront, it can mislead consumers into making purchases they may not have chosen to make otherwise. She added that by not clearly communicating the complete ticket price initially, Dendy Cinema hindered consumers’ ability to make informed decisions.
Dendy Cinema was acquired by Gibson and his business partner Bruce Davey for $21 million in 2008 through their company, Icon Film Distribution. The chain operates six locations across Australia.
This penalty occurs amid ongoing investigations by the ACCC into the wider cinema industry to ensure compliance with required pricing regulations.