The stupid and dangerous fireworks season is underway - there ought to be a law against it!

Actually, there is, so why isn't it enforced?

Where: Yamba, NSW, 2464
When: Saturday, 4 December, 8.30pm
What: Illegal fireworks

WorkCover NSW  requires that:

The possession, use, storage and transport of display fireworks is restricted to individuals holding a:

• pyrotechnician's licence
• fireworks (single use) licence.

There are safety and security requirements for the storage of fireworks depending on the amount and type of fireworks to be stored. Licences are also required to:

• handle fireworks without supervision
• manufacture fireworks
• sell fireworks.

A licence will only be issued for a legitimate reason such as an organised public display that is open to the public. The display must be organised by a community or private organisation for a show, fete, carnival, cultural, religious or sporting event. 

Notified fireworks are displayed on WorkCover's site and can be found here.

Surfin' the Coldstream Festival, Yamba 24-27 October 2008

Surfin' the Coldstream is on in Yamba NSW between Wednesday 24 to Saturday 27 October.
It features a mix of free street performance and music.
Strong lady, sword swallower, human pinwheel firecracker, acrobats, jugglers, comedian, flamenco dancers, singer and muliple bands.

Tickets to the 7pm Saturday Tent of Marvels Show in the Kitchen to Table BigTop can be purchased from ArtHouse Australia or bookings can be made by phoning (02) 6646.1999.

Mark your calendar for the Lismore Lantern Parade, Saturday 21 June 2008

Lismore Kids Arts Festival - 10.00 am
Playing in the Streets, street theatre - 11.30am
Market deLight - 2.00pm
Ceremonial Gates open - 4.00 pm, entry Gold Coins Donation
Winter Warmers, Charity hot food stalls - 4.30pm
Parade - 5.30 pm
Fiery Finale - 6.45 pm
Great Street Party - 8.00pm arts, crafts, workshop, regional cuisine, spectacular parade, lanterns, parade bands, street theatre, carnival dancers outdoor theatre,illuminated puppets, fire art and pyrotechnics......
and much, much more.
Festival website here.

How's the form of Federal Opposition MPs?

Today's sitting of the House of Representatives was disrupted and eventually suspended when a number of vocal and rowdy members of the Opposition ignored the calls of the Speaker and later the Deputy Speaker to adhere to their directions.

The Opposition is obviously not happy with new sitting arrangement for the House of Reps which now sits on Fridays but does not have a period of Question Time. It seems the Opposition is not too keen on working a full week, instead they prefer to be part-timers.

During the morning session of parliament a number of Opposition members were called to order by the Speaker, but they elected to do their "own thing" and ignore the Speaker.

Not unexpectedly, the Speaker ordered the Liberal MP Steven Ciobo to leave the house. Ciobo was escorted from the house by the Sergeant-at-Arms.

Later, the Deputy Speaker ordered Nationals MP Luke Hartsuyker from the house after he held up a cut-out of Mr Rudd.

Hartsuyker refused to leave the house and after a period of further dissent and unruly behaviour by Opposition MPs the house was suspended.

What a fine example these MPs are setting! NOT!!!

Read the Sydney Morning Herald's report at: http://news.smh.com.au/parliament-uproar-as-mp-forcibly-removed/20080222-1trt.html

Amateur pyrotechnicians = dangerous nuisances

Many New Year celebrations featured FIREWORKS, but most of the fireworks were unauthorised and illegal.

Responsible individuals and organisations respect lawful directions associated with fireworks displays. In NSW this involves making application to WorkCover to conduct public displays of fireworks.

WorkCover's website provides a search facility that shows listings of notified displays. The listings enable authorities and members of the public to take appropriate action in preparation for the displays. The website is http//www.workcover.nsw.gov.au/fireworks_search.htm

In addition to the nuisance factor associated with illegal fireworks, the far more important factor of PUBLIC SAFETY need addressing.

Unauthorised and illegal fireworks should not be tolerated. Contact POLICE, LOCAL COUNCIL and WORKCOVER to report incidents of such activities.
Authorised fireworks displays between 01-Nov-2007 and 31-Jan-2008 were registered with WorkCover. The list isn't very long, so obviously most fireworks are unauthorised and illegal.