Chief Minister Michael Gunner warns Territorians ‘no crackers up clackers’
Police have confirmed Cracker Night will go ahead as planned, find out more.
Northern Territory
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UPDATE
CRACKER Night is set to go ahead with a bang as the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) confirmed the low to moderate fire danger for this Sunday.
However, Chief Minister Michael Gunner sent Territorians a stark warning, “no crackers up clackers”.
“Have fun but be Territory smart. Look after your kids. Make sure pets are inside and are not caused unnecessary stress. And please, let your crackers off responsibly – at a safe distance, no crackers up clackers, and no firing them off apartment blocks,” he said.
Mr Gunner was referencing an iconic 2012 NT News front page headline ‘Why I stuck a cracker up my clacker’.
Alex Bowden suffered serious burns on Territory Day in 2012 when he lit a firecracker in his bum.
‘‘I just had a few beers with the boys and let off af ew firecrackers. And I put one in my arse,” he said at the time.
BOM senior meteorologist Billy Lynch said a sea breeze coming through on Sunday afternoon would increase the humidity.
“As the humidity increases the fire danger decreases so for that evening period we are expecting low to moderate fire dangers,” Mr Lynch said.
Assistant chief fire officer Joshua Fischer strongly urges people to use their fireworks in a safe and responsible manner.
“We are requesting people have appropriate means to extinguish any small fires like a hose or a bucket of water,” Mr Fischer said.
Approximately 50 to 80 additional fire fighters will be on duty for cracker night, ensuring public safety.
St John Ambulance director Andrew Thomas encourages people to attend locations where there are public events and displays.
“We will have our volunteers at those events and across the whole of the Territory to provide support and first aid services,” Mr Thomas said.
“This Sunday night St John is hoping everyone can get out and safely enjoy the cracker night evening and the festivities.
“In the case something does go wrong make sure there is water on hand to apply to any burns.”
NT Police will be actively patrolling public areas to make sure people are using the fireworks in a correct manner.
Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro said the rescheduling of Cracker Night had been terribly mishandled by the Chief Minister right from the start.
“Despite the fact that August 29 last year was an ‘extreme’ fire day and was subject to a total fire ban, Mr Gunner ignored the experts and forged ahead with his own decision,” said Ms Finocchiaro,.
For more details about Cracker Day celebrations across the entire Northern Territory, visit territoryday.nt.gov.au.
POLICE, Fire and Emergency Services have confirmed Cracker Night will go ahead as planned on Sunday.
That’s despite residents in rural areas fearing Cracker Night could be a “disaster”, Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro has said.
Ms Finocchiaro made the claims at a press conference on Friday, while attacking Chief Minister Michael Gunner for moving the date to “the very end of the fire season” on August 29.
Territory Day celebrations were moved after the June-July lockdown but Ms Finocchiaro said the date could’ve been moved just “a week later”.
NT PFES said in a statement that “extra precautions” were being put in place, with the Territory north of Elliot under a declared fire danger period.
Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Billy Lynch said fire dangers in Darwin would reach “high to very high” on Sunday.
Chief Minister Michael Gunner’s office has been contacted for comment.
Originally published as Chief Minister Michael Gunner warns Territorians ‘no crackers up clackers’
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