Government declines calls to ban fireworks to the public in the Northern Territory

A Darwin alderman has called for fireworks to be banned to the public, following new data showing a 30 per cent increase in bystander injuries in the past 20 years

Alderman Justine glover said fireworks should be left to professionals, at displays such as at Mindil Beach. Pic Glenn Campbell

A DARWIN alderman has called for fireworks to be banned to the public, following new data showing a 30 per cent increase in bystander injuries in the past 20 years.

A new report from the NT Centre for Disease Control shows 13 out of 18 people who presented to medical services during this year’s Territory Day did not light the fireworks themselves.

MORE STORIES

ST KILDA set to face the Suns in 2020 Darwin AFL fixture

DARWIN council votes to see cats kept on leashes

ONE punch victim fighting for awareness after lucky escape from serious injury

In 2019 there were 18 people who presented with fireworks related injuries during the survey period around Territory Day.

There were 27 injuries in total with some people suffering multiple injuries.

Most people injured were children and teenagers (56 per cent) and 48 per cent of the injuries were burns.

Most people did not receive prompt or appropriate first aid treatment prior to presentation.

Despite safety campaigns and regulations, the frequency of presentations and hospitalisations has not significantly improved since 1998.

The proportion of injuries to bystanders has been increasing over time.

This year the proportion of bystanders injured (72 per cent) was higher than average (45 per cent).

When fireworks injuries are serious news.

WHY I stuck a cracker up my clacker

Darwin alderman Justine Glover said fireworks should only be lit by professionals.

“We’ve seen all around Australia, even in the ACT that we ban fireworks because of the damage they cause to environments, animals and people,” she said.

“In ACT they actually banned fireworks because of the trauma to animals, that’s really interesting because the community there saw animal welfare was paramount.

“The trauma we put onto our pets is shocking, I’ve heard of dogs tearing houses apart, being locked in bathrooms and in trying to escape, falling over in the bathroom and breaking their back.”

YOUR NT News subscription delivers much, much more than you expect

Ms Glover said she wasn’t surprised the rate had increased.

“A lot of people injured are people who are inexperienced, they’re up here as tourists, they’re knew to the Territory, that’s why the numbers aren’t going down,” she said.

“They are an explosive and it’s not something we need to define us as Territorians and the platform on which we celebrate our independence on territory day.

“I’ve seen people’s lives destroyed by fireworks, that’s not an exaggeration, injuries, ongoing damage and the scars from fireworks.”

A simple statement from Chief Minister Michael Gunner said: “No, we will not be banning fireworks sales”.