Fireworks go-ahead is problematic, says Anthony Albanese

‘I understand how important the fireworks are for our economy, but … at a time like this it’s really problematic,’ says Anthony Albanese.

Anthony Albanese in Sydney on Saturday. Picture: AAP

Anthony Albanese has described the decision to proceed with Sydney­’s New Year’s Eve fireworks as “problematic” during a “national emergency” as deadly fires rage in NSW and Victoria.

“I understand how important the fireworks are for our economy, but I just think at a time like this it’s really problematic that it’s going ahead,” the Opposition Leader said on Tuesday.

His comments came after Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore defended the display as a sign of hope and said it would be used to promote fundraising for the bushfires. The event, expected to attract a global audience of one billion people­, is estimated to inject about $130m into the NSW economy.

Scott Morrison and NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian ­expressed support for the annual celeb­rations to go ahead as planned­, given safety approval from the Rural Fire Service.

Mr Albanese said the bushfires required a national response from the federal government that used every resource, including mobilising the Australian Defence Force. “They need to be deployed in a way which assists the process and, of course, the ADF aren’t firefighting experts but they do have skills,” he said.

On Tuesday, the Prime Minister confirmed the ADF was working with the Victorian government to fight bushfires in that state.

Mr Albanese also criticised the federal government for failing to hold a meeting with state and territ­ory governments in November, waiting instead for the next scheduled meeting in March. “In the middle of November, I called for COAG to meet, to get a ­national co-ordinated response to what we saw was coming and, unfortunate­ly, the predictions have been proven quite right.”

On Monday, NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro tweeted from London backing calls for the fireworks to be axed.