Gunner Government cancelling Cracker Night this far out is madness

TERRITORIANS love Cracker Night and cancelling it this far out from July 1 is madness

Cracker Night at Mindil Beach on Territory Day. Picture: Eshad Ekram

TERRITORIANS love Cracker Night and cancelling it this far out is madness.

It’s one of the greatest nights of the year as we celebrate self government on July 1 each year.

For Territorians, this is the toughest year in our history.

It’s still 76 days until Cracker Night/Territory Day and we think the Gunner Government has pulled the trigger far too early in cancelling events and the purchase of personal fireworks.

We are now at Day 10 with no new coronavirus cases in the community and people are starting to see light at the end of the tunnel.

Cracker Night cancelled over COVID-19 concerns

So why would the Gunner Government announce that such an important celebration in our calendar is cancelled this far out?

We get these are unprecedented times but we see no real reason why Cracker Night has to be cancelled right now.

Surely, a decision on such an important event for the psyche of Territorians should have been made much closer to the day i.e. a month in advance.

What better way would there have been to celebrate the easing of restrictions with Cracker Night on July 1?

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How does the government know what the COVID-19 situation will look like in, say, mid June?

The purchase of personal fireworks can easily be carried out with appropriate social distancing at shopfronts who sell them.

Also, too, they can be set off with appropriate social distancing.

Just when people are starting to feel better about the COVID-19 situation, the government has taken away a lot of that hope by cancelling Cracker Night 76 days out.

With a government telling children and parents that they must attend school from next Monday, this latest message will again spark confusion in the community about what is right and what is not in this crisis.

We get why the regional shows are cancelled ... because they are mass build-ups of people. But Cracker Night is different.

The Gunner Government has built up a lot of goodwill in the community in recent weeks.

But this decision puts a lot of that goodwill at risk.

At the very least, it should be deferred until later in the year.

If we can’t have Cracker Night, it’s up to the government to give Territorians hope.

Because, right now, it feels like we’ve taken four steps forward and five steps back.