Ticketing monopoly Ticketek and carrier Virgin Australia have earned the dubious distinction of being named among the nation’s worst corporate performers in consumer group Choice’s annual Shonky Awards.
ABC News Business reported that seven brands were recognised this year for failing basic consumer expectations, exploiting regulatory loopholes, or peddling misleading nutritional assertions. Now in its nineteenth year, the satirical awards ceremony serves as an unsparing audit of corporate practices that drain household budgets across Australia.
Ticketing giant under fire for fees and customer despair
Ticketek drew the ire of judges following widespread public frustration over dynamic ticket pricing, exorbitant processing surcharges, and chronic customer service shortcomings. The platform, which commands a near-monopoly over major stadium concerts and sporting events nationwide, was criticised for forcing patrons through glitch-prone virtual queues only to present inflated prices at the checkout.
Consumer advocates noted that despite hefty operational profits, patrons routinely faced non-existent support channels when performances were postponed or cancelled, leaving thousands out of pocket.
Virgin Australia penalised over flight credit friction
Virgin Australia also found itself in the firing line after Choice examined the carrier's contentious handling of flight credits and customer redress. According to ABC News Business, the airline faced intense scrutiny over complex redemption hurdles and customer service delays that effectively locked travellers out of funds owed to them following cancellations.
Choice highlighted that domestic travellers were frequently subjected to inflated fares when attempting to redeem pandemic-era credits, transforming supposed consumer remedies into revenue-generating exercises for the carrier.
Supermarket health claims face nutritional scrutiny
Beyond the travel and entertainment sectors, the awards cast a critical eye over everyday retail goods, prominently penalising packaged food manufacturers for deceptive health claims. So-called "protein chips" and processed snacks were singled out for charging premium prices under the guise of functional fitness nutrition, while offering negligible dietary benefits compared to cheaper standard alternatives.
Choice’s nutritional testing demonstrated that several branded savoury snacks contained only trace amounts of protein while remaining laden with saturated fats and high sodium levels, effectively masquerading ultra-processed junk food as wholesome health fuel.
Calls for stronger penalties against corporate misconduct
The consumer advocacy group stated that this year’s crop of awards reflected a broader deterioration in basic service standards, exacerbated by cost-of-living pressures that leave households with little tolerance for corporate corner-cutting.
Advocates reiterated calls for federal regulators, including the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, to be granted expanded enforcement powers and to mandate tougher penalties for unfair trading practices. Without systemic reform, Choice warned, major operators across the transport, retail, and live entertainment sectors will continue treating customer dissatisfaction merely as an ordinary cost of doing business.
