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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 10 Hansard (25 September) . . Page.. 3803 ..
In relation to the destruction of fireworks:
(1) In the 2003-04 Budget $345,000 was allocated this financial year for the destruction of 37 tonnes of confiscated fireworks. How much of this funding has been expended to date;
(2) How many tonnes of fireworks of the total 37 tonnes listed have been destroyed to date;
(3) Have any further tonnes of fireworks been confiscated since this funding was allocated in the Budget;
(4) If yes to (3) how many additional tonnes have been confiscated, will those fireworks be destroyed, at what cost and from where will the funds come to destroy these fireworks.
Ms Gallagher
: The answer to the member's question is as follows:(1) Total expenditure to date on the destruction of fireworks is $199,398.69. $118,889.60 was spent in 2002-03, $80,509.09 has been spent this financial year.
(2) Approximately 700kg have been destroyed to date.
Twenty-five tonnes of the fireworks were subject to an appeal that was dismissed on 27 August 2003. Arrangements are now being made to commence the destruction of these fireworks.
(3) Yes.
(4) Small quantities of fireworks were surrendered to ACT WorkCover over the 2003 Queen's Birthday period. On 2 September 2003 ACT WorkCover seized approximately 15 tonnes of fireworks. These amounts are currently the subject of investigation and preparation of evidence briefs for consideration by the Director of Public Prosecutions.
(5) Destruction of fireworks cannot occur until they have been surrendered or forfeited to the Territory for destruction, either voluntarily or through an order from a court. Costs for the destruction of the fireworks will be calculated when appropriate.
Additional destruction costs will be addressed through the normal budget processes.
Notes:
(1) The final weight of the confiscated fireworks was found to be 41 tonnes rather than the 37 tonnes originally estimated. All references in future will be to 41 tonnes.
(2) The process of destruction of the fireworks involved a rigorous analysis and testing of the procedures for the safe destruction of the fireworks. This also involved the construction of purpose built facilities for the safe storage and destruction of the fireworks.
(3) The requirement to proceed with the destruction occurred toward the end of the 2002-03 financial year. A Treasurer's Advance to ACT WorkCover in June 2003, included $118,889.60 to cover the preliminary costs of uplift, transport, storage, licensing and insurance.
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