Page 5302 - Week 14 - Thursday, 19 November 2009
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the fact is that there are many people that very closely link living in this city with memories of fireworks.
As has been reported in the Canberra Times, I use new media extensively, and I see great merits in that form of communication. On this, I would like to commend Clare Hogan and the others that have constructively put their views forward on Facebook. The “lift the ACT ban on fireworks” group has 9,726 members as of 10 am today and is a great reflection of what I believe is a strong groundswell of support in favour of the responsible use of fireworks.
My colleague Mrs Dunne has already spoken about the consultation in the form of telephone surveys undertaken in 2007 and last year. As of August last year, 56 per cent of Canberrans agreed that they should be able to buy and use fireworks. It makes you wonder why the government undertook this survey. If it was to gauge community views, has the message not been sent? What is the point of doing such surveys if the results have no impact on the subsequent decisions?
I am the first to admit that there are problems with the irresponsible use of fireworks. There are also problems with the irresponsible use of other legal products, such as cars, motorbikes, knives, scissors, cricket bats, baseball bats, hockey sticks, spades, axes, and the list goes on and on. Some will say that fireworks are different because, even if they are used responsibly, they are troublesome. However, there are many activities, products, events and venues, which we tolerate that have consequences beyond our back fences. I am sure everyone in this place either has a dog or has a neighbour who has a dog that barks every now and again, which is audible beyond their backyard. I am sure we have all heard loud voices, laughing, music, lawn mowers, whipper snippers and more coming from a neighbour’s house. We accept these things, because that is what living in a city is all about. It is what living in a suburb is all about.
We have products that, even when used responsibly—that is, as they are intended—cause problems. Cigarettes are one such product, yet where are the Greens and the ALP when it comes to banning that product? I am not for one minute implying we should be banning cigarettes. I am simply highlighting the inconsistency in their argument. We accept there is a road or a path to better regulation on the issue of cigarettes. Why do we not accept that there is a path or continuum for better regulation of fireworks?
We in this Assembly must move away from overlegislating and overreaching into the lives of our constituents. We are not here to run the lives of those whom we represent. I will not stand here and say there are no problems with the use of fireworks in Canberra. However, I do believe we have not given the safe and responsible use of fireworks a fair go. As someone who is opposed to excessive government, including over-regulating, it amazes me when laws are passed or regulations put in place that are not enforced. What is the point of such actions? Is it simply to threaten people?
I do not think that the ACT government properly enforced our laws regarding fireworks and, because of this, irresponsible use was allowed. Imagine if we did not enforce road rules. I think we would get more irresponsible behaviour than we get now. Most people acknowledge this and thus support the reasonable enforcement of
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