New Northern Territory Fireworks Laws Useless

The new laws regarding the sale of and use of fireworks in the Territory don’t get to the root of the problem, says the Territory Opposition.

“The law against letting off fire works outside of Territory Day isn’t enforced, 11 months after Territory Day crackers are still going off – that’s the problem,” says Terry Mills, Leader of the Opposition.

“The existing law has not been enforced, so now we have the absurd situation where the Government is making criminals out of mums and dads who put any left over fireworks in the cupboard for next year.

“The problem isn’t ordinary Territorians having fireworks in their bedroom cupboard, the problem is people with no respect for the law.

“The Government has failed to target people who let off fireworks outside of Territory Day and now proposes new laws, rather than enforcing existing ones.

“The collapse of respect for the law in the last few years is directly related to this Government’s failure to enforce the law.

“If you can’t back old laws, how will new ones fix the problem?

“How many people have been prosecuted for letting off fireworks outside of Territory Day? I’ve not heard of any.

“The problem is just another variation of the single greatest failing of this Government – Territory Labor is all talk and no action.

“Don’t make the majority pay the price for the behaviour of a minority - prosecute those breaking the law.”

2008-05-23