Territory Day: Chief Minister Lia Finocchairo secures fireworks with a little help from some friends

Territory Day has been saved and Tuesday July 1 will be a cracker celebration after weeks of tense cross-border negotiations.

Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro met with Queensland Premier David Crisafulli in Brisbane last week and one of the many topics of conversation was Territory Day fireworks clearance through Queensland.

Territory Day has been saved and Tuesday July 1 will be a cracker celebration.

Chief Minister Lia Finocchairo, with the help of Queensland Premier David Crisafulli and New South Wales Premier Chris Minns has had the Territory’s fireworks cleared for transportation.

A convoy of trucks carrying more than 100 tonnes of fireworks is heading for the Northern Territory.

Chief Minister Finocchairo confirmed with the NT News that the trucks are on the move.

“The fireworks are officially on the way,” she said.

“We’ve had confirmation the trucks have left New South Wales and are heading to the Territory via Queensland.

“It’s so important that Territorians get to celebrate their way, and not be held ransom by interstate decisions.

“New South Wales and Queensland bureaucrats may have done their best to hold things up, but nothing gets in the way of Territory Day.

“I thank Premiers Minns and Crisafulli for seeing the light and helping get things moving.

“We’re ready to celebrate 1 July in true Territory style…. loud, proud, and full of Territory pride.”

In the Northern Territory, fireworks are legal to purchase and use for one day of the year: Territory Day July 1st which celebrates the day the Northern Territory gained power, from the Commonwealth Government, to self-govern in 1978.

The Northern Territory is the only Australian jurisdiction that allows the public sale, use, and possession of fireworks during a specific approved period.

Bureaucrats in NSW had threatened to derail Territory Day celebrations when they seized our fireworks almost a month ago when the arrived in Australia.

Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro immediately spoke to NSW Premier Chris Minns alerting him to the importance of the shipment to Territorians.

A NSW government spokesperson confirmed that for the fireworks to be transported to the NT, appropriate authorisation would need to be sought from SafeWork NSW and from authorities in Queensland and SA.

“Shipments of fireworks entered New South Wales which are not authorised in NSW and were seized by SafeWork NSW,” the spokesperson said.

“While use of these fireworks is legal in the NT, they are not legal to sell and use in NSW.

“In New South Wales the appropriate authorisation would need to be acquired from SafeWork New South Wales and then similar authorisations would be required in Queensland and South Australia to allow the product to transit to the Northern Territory.

“New South Wales was willing to provide that authorisation subject to agreement from the other states.”

Originally published as Territory Day: Chief Minister Lia Finocchairo secures fireworks with a little help from some friends