John Barilaro ‘fizzer’ as Sydney’s New Year’s fireworks get go-ahead

John Barilaro’s call from London for Sydney’s New Year’s Eve fireworks to be cancelled has backfired, with the event to go ahead.

Georgina and Fortunato Foti prepare fireworks on Monday. Picture: Sam Mooy

NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro’s call from London for Sydney’s New Year’s Eve fireworks to be cancelled has backfired, with the event to go ahead and his own colleagues branding him a hypocrite for making the remark while on holiday overseas.

The NSW Rural Fire Service granted an ­approval late on Monday to the City of Sydney Council to hold its Sydney Harbour fireworks display, ending several days of angst for spectators and businesses over whether the event would proceed.

Revellers in other parts of NSW are being forced to make alternative plans for New Year’s Eve after a string of councils dumped their annual fireworks because of the threat of catastrophic bushfires.

Councils in Parramatta, Port Macquarie, Wollongong and Wagga Wagga have canned their New Year’s Eve festivities after a total fire ban was declared across NSW for Tuesday.

Canberra has also decided not to proceed with its fireworks because of the fire danger.

Mr Barilaro took to Twitter late on Sunday night in London, where he broke ranks with Premier ­Gladys Berejiklian and called for the Sydney fireworks display to be scrapped.

“Sydney’s New Year’s Eve Fireworks should just be canceled (sic). Very easy decision. The risk is too high and we must respect our exhausted RFS volunteers. If ­regional areas have had fireworks banned, then let’s not have two classes of citizens. We’re all in this crisis together,” he wrote.

Less than 24 hours earlier, Ms Berejiklian had moved to reassure spectators and Sydney’s business sector that the event would proceed, subject to the approval of fire chiefs.

A senior minister criticised the Deputy Premier for claiming to hold such a commitment to the bushfire crisis while enjoying a holiday thousands of kilometres away. Mr Barilaro is one of several senior MPs on leave — he is expected to return to work in early to mid-January.

“If Barra’s so concerned, then why is he in London?” the official said. “This is a decision best made by those in NSW, as opposed to those in the UK.”

Ms Berejiklian distanced herself from Mr Barilaro’s remarks, as did his Nationals colleagues. By Monday afternoon, the tweet had amassed more than 2000 “likes” on the platform, although the mix of comments in reply were both supportive and critical.

Trevor Khan, a Nationals member of the NSW upper house, said his leader’s intention was more likely to be motivated by genuine concern for rural voters than to pick a fight with Ms Berejiklian. “He believes he’s representing the views of his constituency,” he said. “That’s how he views what he does. He doesn’t believe he’s undermining the Coalition or Gladys.”

Greens MP David Shoebridge said Mr Barilaro’s remarks were a distraction from earlier inaction on the bushfires, which had angered constituents. “The Nats have been unable to deliver a ­coherent position on the fires,” he said, calling Mr Barilaro’s tweet a “pretty barefaced political play”.

The RFS announced its decision on the Sydney fireworks just before 5.30pm on Monday, confirming that the $6.5m display had “been approved”. However, the ­organisation, along with Fire and Rescue NSW, continues to assess “a number of other Total Fire Ban exemptions”.

Tino Foti, who with brother Fortunato has directed Sydney’s New Year’s Eve fireworks for more than 20 years, said he was excited to try “something different” on Tuesday night.

“We have new colours and firework shapes. Every year we try and do something different, something that hasn’t been seen before,” Mr Foti said. More than 36,000 fireworks were to be used.

Meanwhile, Parramatta lord mayor Bob Dwyer said “extreme weather conditions” were behind the “unfortunate” decision to cancel the city’s fireworks display. Canberra is the only capital city to cancel its fireworks display.

In Victoria, fire conditions forced the cancellation of New Year’s Eve fireworks at Nicholson River, Metung, Paynesville foreshore and Lakes Entrance.

Melbourne’s annual fireworks display will proceed, with lord mayor Sally Capp confirming the $3.4m celebration would go ahead.

In Tasmania, Hobart will have waterfront fireworks displays at 9.30pm and midnight. In Brisbane, celebrations will be held at South Bank Parklands with an 8.30pm show for families and a midnight show. Adelaide’s Elder Park and the Torrens Riverbank will serve as the hub of New Year’s Eve celebrations, while Perth is hosting a party at Yagan Square and the Perth Cultural Centre.

Darwin will host 9pm and midnight fireworks at the waterfront.

Additional reporting: Adeshola Ore