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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 1 Hansard (13 December) . . Page.. 205 ..

MR CORBELL (continuing):

I note that as recently as last month the South Australian government enacted new regulations to ban the sale of fireworks to members of the general public. The decision by the South Australian government brings them into line with Western Australia, Victoria and Queensland in completely banning the sale of fireworks to members of the public. The ACT and the Northern Territory allow for limited sales to and use by the public at specified times of the year-the Queen's Birthday long weekend here in Canberra and Territory Day in the Northern Territory.

Mr Speaker, only New South Wales and Tasmania have regulatory frameworks that allow for the use of fireworks by the public all year round. Concerns about the control of fireworks and their importation have also led the Workplace Relations Ministers Council to request that the customs minister reintroduce import controls on fireworks.

As I have stated already, the government is supportive of this motion and believes that it is now an appropriate time to review and assess the impact of this industry on the ACT community. Right across Australia there is clearly a move away from the unrestricted use of fireworks by members of the public. The trend to only allowing properly trained and skilled pyrotechnicians to use fireworks is now well established in our country.

It is appropriate that the ACT community has an opportunity to participate in the debate on how the government should go about deciding the balance between the personal enjoyment, mentioned by Mrs Cross, that quite a number of people in our community derive from the use of fireworks, with the risk associated with the sale and use of explosives to persons not properly trained in their use.

Mr Speaker, I have circulated an amendment in my name that changes the reporting date for this inquiry. The government thinks it would be appropriate that a six-month period be set aside for this inquiry and that the committee therefore report by 27 June next year, allowing the government ample time to respond to the report prior to the 2003 fireworks season.

Mr Speaker, I look forward to the opportunity to participate in this committee's deliberations. I move:

MR SPEAKER: At this point I would draw to the attention of the Assembly and members that standing order 217 reads as follows:

I am informed that the terms of reference include matters within the responsibility of another standing committee. Someone may wish to adjourn this debate while a suitable amendment is drawn up to accommodate that difficulty.

Debate (on motion by Mr Hargreaves) adjourned to a later hour.

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