Fireworks Now Banned In The Act

[Shell]

The Minister for Industrial Relations, Mr John Hargreaves MLA, today announced the permanent ban on the importation, sale and use of consumer fireworks in the ACT.

Canberrans will no longer be able to buy and use consumer fireworks over the Queen's Birthday long weekend in June, or any other time, following a decision to remove consumer fireworks from the Dangerous Substances (Explosive) Regulations 2004. In future the use of fireworks will only be allowed at professional public displays and private functions where a permit has been provided.

"Fireworks are about celebration, but unfortunately for many in the community they are about damage to property, distress and injury to animals, and public nuisance. In the past this has also resulted in significant government and community resources being tied up to deal with fireworks incidents over the long weekend and beyond.

"This will mean that in future anyone caught discharging consumer or other illegal fireworks will be prosecuted," Mr Hargreaves said.

The decision brings the ACT into line with most other jurisdictions, in particular NSW, and follows a number of reviews undertaken over several years that have progressively lead to stronger regulatory arrangements being put into place in the Territory.

"The Government understands that many Canberrans may still have fireworks that were bought legally on previous Queen's Birthday long weekends. We will be encouraging people to do the right thing and hand in any stored fireworks for safe disposal without any questions asked, Mr Hargreaves said.

The 'hand-in' will commence on Saturday 29 August and operate for the following three weekends. Details of the 'hand-in' arrangements are available at www.ors.act.gov.au. The 'hand-in' does not involve compensation for surrendered fireworks. Mr Hargreaves stressed that people will be liable for prosecution if caught with consumer fireworks following the 'hand-in' period.

"The community will still be able to enjoy the spectacle of fireworks at the significant public displays conducted throughout the year, such as Skyfire and New Year's Eve celebrations. The decision to ban consumer fireworks was not taken lightly, but in the interests of public safety and animal welfare the Government believes it is a necessary one," Mr Hargreaves concluded.

For further information contact Canberra Connect on 132281 or visit www.ors.act.gov.au

http://www.chiefminister.act.gov.au/media.php?v=8351

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/08/24/2664761.htm

[94 skyline]

Why could they just put the age limit up on purchasing fireworks

[MIVEC]

Because it's not about the age, it's about pretentious whinging c**ts that can't handle one or two goddamn nights a year of some noise and bright lights.

"Oh, but think of the animals you horrible person Peter!" you say? People who have animals are going to be well aware that fireworks occur on and around the Queens Birthday long weekend and thus should take precautionary measures, the same way people should make sure to leave a little early to beat traffic or take some spare coins for the parking meter. Or buy a heater for winter, or (my personal favourite) get A/C installed before summer.

All this is cry baby f-tards who can't stand having their personal little bubbles even slightly prodded for a couple of hours a year and go whinging to their big shot political buddies about making sure that their little worlds can go on undisturbed, at least until the next issue comes along for them to bitch about.

Holy crap you have no idea how pissed off this kind of stuff makes me and I don't even buy or use the damn things!!

[paulR32gtr]

Haha I went off into a similar rant at my gf this evening when hearing of "outrage at a gun that shoots alcohol into peoples mouths" down here in Melbourne. It's called a goddamn water pistol for crying out loud, and who the hell would be outraged at that??? If anything you end up less drunk and covered in alcohol so need to retire early to change.

Oh what this country has come to...

[Bullet32]

Just because there is now a "ban" on fireworks in Canberra it doesnt mean that they will dissapear, the industry will just go underground... If you can find the right people you will still be able to buy them out of the back of a truck somewhere (if you really want them)... I know for sure that there are some privately owned pirotechnical companies in the ACT - might be able to sweet talk one of them into selling you some mortars

I think we will still see plenty of lights in the sky over the Queens birthday weekend for a few years.

P.S. The Fun Police have struck again... I wonder what mildly entertaining past time they will ban next.

[RB ONEVIA]

^^^^ thats right theyll never dissapear. they will always be around....

[Sinista32]

I'm getting old as I feel the need to rant like a WWII to veteran !

Australia has become the Land of soft cock adults and disrespectful lawless teens. We bred Gen Y, the genertion that has the anthem " I can do what ever I like". Hence these laws from the fun police to protect the adults who created the f'wits by not teaching boundries and respect.

If you let your pup shit in your house with out smacking it and rubbing their nose in it then you end up with a dog that shits in everyones house. This is what has happend and why there will be no fireworks sold to the public.

As a kid I really enjoyed going to fireworks nights that were held at local ovals by APEX/Lions, nearby properties or in my street with neighbours/family and letting off fireworks that had the potential to blow my hand to peices. Huge arse bon fires. Great memories. There hasnt been a decent firework available over the counter in over 2 decades.

Watching a pyrotechnic do it on the shore of the lake is LAME for all!

[GTRKat]

This doesn't upset me because I don't feel the need to purchase crappy little fireworks. I have no objections of people buying them and letting them off in designated areas during designated times however as usual the bad apples ruin it for everyone.

Just because I am a pet owner and might have time to plan, does that mean I deserve to have my dogs running around going mental from the 5pm until say 2am in the morning that I had fireworks constantly going off around my house last year? Tell me how do you plan for that? They are frigging loud be it inside or out dogs still go nuts. And just how do you get around that? Unfortunately they aren't like children and its not like you can explain or make them understand!

[nerm]

Kat, i hear you and i understand. as a dog lover myself i hate to see any animal (yes even cats) in distress.

i understand that its a vast minority of people that are doing to wrong thing (ie letting fireworks off after 10pm etc) and when it happens it can be very frustrating for everone that lives in the area

but still, this is just stupid. when there is a concert at the UC i can hear it clear as anything from my house. and occationally the fully hextic bass disturbs me when i sleep. should i complain and maybe stop the event, inconvieniencing thousands of people a year. no i suck it up and deal with it. its only 5-10 nights a year and more often that not on a weekend

its only 2 nights A YEAR

[33Sedan]

Funny, out of all the good things they could be doing for us, they decide to ban fireworks.... (I do find it crazy how there are 11yo's getting drunk on our streets, 17yo's driving cars - not very well and dying ;-), cigarettes and related deaths, but fireworks are obviously a bigger concern)

I agree with Sinista lol, stupid kids. Need a good smacking!

[GT-R32]

As much as I think they are pointless and annoying, I think this is yet another sad loss for the individual and their freedoms.

[slaughter]

you cannot just look at the negatives, but you need to look at the positives, 1 the only place in Australia that allows them until now, think of the money that this weekend beings in for canberra, let alone all the people that are employed at Adam and Eve etc for the weekend to sell the fireworks, they are getting a little extra cash so they can put food on the table for their kids.

I love it when we can buy and let them off, they make me feel young again! We will be missing a lot of money to the canberra with banning the sale of fireworks.

[GTRKat]

its only 2 nights A YEAR

It's supposed to be but I can tell you in my neighbourhood it's no less than 4 and often more.

Not liking noise is different to something that an animal is afraid of. I think there's a big difference. As I said, it's not like it's just something that you can explain to them!

[33Sedan]

Yea true, I do feel quite bad for the animals, my dogs go crazy. RSPCA were saying that last year they had a record number of stray dogs/cats around the Queens bday. Although ban fireworks? Nah, need to invent some doggie ear plugs.

[GTRKat]

I think maybe if they'd been a bit stricter on them and let you buy them but only take them to designated areas. Do the community thing have a big bonfire or something.

[nerm]

It's supposed to be but I can tell you in my neighbourhood it's no less than 4 and often more.

Not liking noise is different to something that an animal is afraid of. I think there's a big difference. As I said, it's not like it's just something that you can explain to them!

like i said, a few people doing the wrong thing. You should have called the police on these idiots then maybe the rest of us could have enjoyed fireworks for another year.

I know that dogs are afraid of fireworks, their hearing is that much better/more sensitive than our so i can only imagine what a firework would sound like to them. its not like the fireworks are doing any perminant damage to their psyche, they just get scared for a night or two. im sure that children are afraid of thunder storms.. should we impose a ban on them too? infact my dogs are scared of them too.. so they get to sleep inside on nights like last night

I think maybe if they'd been a bit stricter on them and let you buy them but only take them to designated areas. Do the community thing have a big bonfire or something.

I agree 100%

Edited August 25, 2009 by Ex!$t3nZ

[GTRKat]

The police don't come out for crap like that and since its coming from all over the place its a bit difficult to stop everyone.

If bringing them inside was the solution then I'd be happy but unfortunately they can still hear them and they just go nuts in there instead. I am sure its sad for some people that they are banned but I'm just saying as a pet owner I'm not upset to see the back of them.

But then as said maybe if it'd been managed properly in the first place you wouldn't get these type of situations!!

[slaughter]

Can we please think of other people? Like the ones who can make money during this period im not talking about the well to do people but im talking about the people who slave their asses off to get no where and then a opportunity like this comes along where they can possible get a little extra money to pay a bill or put food on the table. Not to forget all the money it raises for ACT in the sale of these things and the licensing to sell these things.

[Sinista32]

Agree, there are people who get casual employment during this period. As with the Summernats which employ hundreds for the few days. Well needed cash by the less fortunate.

[MIVEC]

This doesn't upset me because I don't feel the need to purchase crappy little fireworks. I have no objections of people buying them and letting them off in designated areas during designated times however as usual the bad apples ruin it for everyone.

I don't buy or use them either but that's not what this is about.

This is about pollies not wanting to take the time to come up with decent plans to combat the breaking of the law and the consequences that result from it. As said already things like smoking and gambling are bad, so why don't we ban those outright?! Hell, look at all these stories on street racing and burnouts, why don't we just ban any car with anything over 60kw? Fast food isn't good for you! BAN IT!

Banning something is never ever ever the right thing to do! EVER

Instead what they should do is try to educate people, and this sought of hits back to Sins point about degenerate youths with their "do whatever I want" mentality, about why it's not a good idea or reasonable to set off fireworks outside of designated times/areas. Instead of telling little Timmy it's (it's = object/action under ban) bad/wrong they should be telling little Timmy why it's a bad idea to even think about it in the first place and then letting him make the decision hopefully having educated him enough that he understands there will be consequences if he decides to do the wrong thing.

Just because a few bad apples decide to fall from the tree doesn't mean we should cut down the whole tree