ACT Fireworks Association

Sunday, 7 December 2003

 I have undertaken several research assignments for the ACT Fireworks Industry Association.   The following is a summary of my involvement and findings.

1.     In early 2001 I was approached by Harold Upton of the ACT Fireworks Industry Association to conduct an ACT wide survey on fireworks usage in the ACT.   This simple random sample survey of over 300 households in the ACT showed that 11% of the ACT population uses fireworks in family based gatherings.   Many of such uses are collective purchases for communal family based traditional gatherings known as "Guy Forkes" and “Queens Birthday Celebration” nights.

2.     In late 2001 I was again approached by Harold Upton to independently research various documents including ACT Work Cover Annual Reports and make a submission of my findings to the ACT Legislative assembly inquiry into fireworks.   I was give a free hand without any obligation or inference other that to be fully independent and render my opinion based on the facts.  I prepared, submitted and presented a comprhensive report to the ACT Legislative assembly Committee (available through their office).   My report shows that the WorkCovers annual reports in question contain many matter of serious concern including:

3.     Subsequent to this report, I became very concerned at the lack of credibility in an article published on page one of the Canberra Times and sought permission to make a further submission to the same ACT Legislative inquiry.   I again appeared before the inquiry and submitted and presented a further report (available through their office).   I did this at my own expense as I was concerned that justice be fair, unbiased and based on facts.

4.      The findings of the legislative assembly were published.

5.      Since my commencement on representing the ACT Fireworks Industry, I have I draw the following conclusions into the fireworks industry in the ACT:-

 6.     There is insufficient need or justification to ban shop-good fireworks in the ACT.

 7.   Based on various data including record sales of fireworks data, police reports and recorded complaints, almost no reported injuries, the 2003 season was one of the best ever and was by far the safest and with the least complaints. 

8.    In 2003 there were no recorded illegal sales of fireworks and no illegal fireworks by retail members of the ACT Fireworks Industry Association and no action taken against them as they have fully complied with the law.

9.   The Shop-good Fireworks industry is a legitimate industry and shop-good fireworks are perfectly legal trade.

10.   As with many high mark-up imported commodities there are bound to be some form of illegal imports by end use consumers albeit through an unregulated Grey Market or Black Market.   For all sorts of fireworks this can be readily done through the Internet with foreign-based businesses selling the packaged product directly to the consumer and selling component material for amateurs to put together.  

11.   The investigation of significant fireworks injuries and damages across Australia reveals the inappropriate or stupid use of home made fireworks using guidelines and recipes from the Internet.  The very large bangers in particular are prone to fit into this category because the legal industry does not import or sell them as they are not classified as “shop-goods fireworks”.   Such black market activities and injuries and complaints should not be confused with the legally conducted ACT Fireworks Industry Association members.

12. Each year at fireworks time in the ACT many pet owners do not take careful precautions and in effect fail to provide adequate protection and/or inadvertently allow their pets to escape.   It should be said that about 1 in 3 dogs are legally licenced which means that about two thirds of dog owners in the ACT are illegally keeping dogs in their custody.   Every week stray dogs and cats are taken to the pound to be put to death.   It is not surprising therefore that many dogs and cats escape around well published fireworks times.

13. Emotive stories -   Every year at fireworks time one can expect some sad and emotive tale of woe with calls for fireworks to be banned.   This makes wonderful copy for the papers and everyone is free to hurl acrimony against the fireworks industry.   The acrimony is much like being asked “have you stopped beating your wife” - you know you can answer but any answer will be badly interpreted.   This is all part of the game played by the anti-fireworks lobby.

14. Reality - The reality is that no-one in the ACT was seriously injured at all in 2003 from fireworks sold through the ACT Fireworks Association, and it was one of the lowest level of complaints submitted to the police for years.

15. Through the media we will always hear, see and feel the emotion, the pity, the tales of woe and misery.   Viewers, readers, listeners and the media love it - it is controversial and is a good human interest issue.

16. In the past 2 years whilst researching into the ACT Fireworks Industry and its various problems etc, I have come to the belief that members of the ACT Fireworks Industry Association have been unfairly treated, victimized and suffered considerable financial loss in defending their rights to legally trade as legitimate businesses in the legal shopgoods fireworks industry.

17.  Where to from here - If the ACT Government wishes to ban the industry then in my opinion it should do so with integrity and buy out the traders who have invested years into the good will of their respective legitimate businesses.    If they do not wish to ban it then let them trade as any legal business is entitled to do.

18.   More peole are injured and/or killed each week from alcohol related incidents - domestic violence, drink driving, drunken brawls, etc than injured by the entire history of ACT fireworks.   Similarly more people are killed and/or injured from knife fights each year in the ACT than the entire history of injuries by ACT fireworks.   Why single out legal fireworks traders and not shops that sell alcohol or knives etc.

Ken Mitchell

CEO