A group booked out a whole venue for their private use only,

They are in breach of the law and the following is the position in Victoria

1.3. Use of Optical Surveillance Devices

An ‘optical surveillance device’ means any device capable of being used to record visually or observe an activity, but does not include spectacles, contact lenses or a similar device used by a person with impaired sight to overcome that impairment.

A ‘private activity’ means an activity carried on in circumstances that may reasonably be taken to indicate that the parties to it desire it to be observed only by themselves. It does not include an activity carried on outside a building or an activity carried on in any circumstances in which the parties to it ought reasonably to expect that it may be observed by someone else.

When is it an offence to use an optical surveillance device

It is an offence for a person to knowingly install, use or maintain an optical surveillance device to record visually or observe a private activity to which the person is not a party, without the permission of each party to the activity.

When can an optical surveillance device be used

A person can use an optical surveillance device to:

• record a private activity that the person is a party to
• record any other activity that is not a private activity (example: filming a street performer, filming an activity taking place in a front yard or on a house)

Where can I find this information in the Act?

See sections 3 and 7 of the Act.

https://www.smartsafe.org.au/legal-guides/legal-guide-surveillance-legislation-victoria

You can request they stop using it and delete it as they had no authority to recird the event and if they do not then take the matter further.

I they do not then you can lodge a formal complaint with VCAT

Here is their link

https://www.vcat.vic.gov.au/

Make sure all communication is in writing and you keep copies to use in the proceedings

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