New Year’s Eve is looming. But judging by a petition currently circulating online, hundreds of thousands of Australians aren’t in the mood for the usual celebrations.
With large swathes of the eastern states crippled by drought and blackened by an unprecedented bushfire crisis, 150,000 people have signed a Change.org petition calling for Sydney’s famous December 31 fireworks display to be cancelled and the funds redirected to struggling farmers and firefighters.
Watch: Emily Smith and her family lost everything in the NSW fires. Post continues below.
The appeal, which is addressed to Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore, reads, “2019 has been a catastrophic year in Australia for floods and fires. Give the money we spend on FIREWORKS New Years Eve to farmers and firefighters and animal carers. Save AUSTRALIA’s wildlife. [sic]
“$5.8 MILLION was spent in Sydney alone for fireworks last year. All states should say NO to FIREWORKS.
“[The fireworks] may traumatise some people as there is enough smoke in the air.”
On Tuesday, roughly 2,700 firefighters were battling 85 blazes around New South Wales, including a single 60-kilometre front burning north-west of Sydney. Dubbed a “mega fire”, it was formed when five smaller fires joined together on Friday, forming a 250,000-hectare inferno larger than the city itself.
So far this fire season, six people have been killed, 680 homes destroyed and more than 2.7 million hectares of land burned in New South Wales alone.
“Money going up in smoke”.
A number of supporters of the Change.org petition posted comments urging the government and Sydney council to adjust its priorities in the wake of the crisis.
“The farmers are still struggling [and there is] a long road ahead for them, they need the money more than we need the show,” one signatory wrote. “Firefighters are doing the best they can, the land is dry, the water restrictions have started. Surely the money is more wisely spent on the issues our country is facing every day.”
“Firstly, the farmers are in dire straits and need all the assistance we can give,” another wrote. “Secondly, fireworks are a COMPLETE waste of money for a few minutes of ‘oooohs’ and ‘aaaahs’, when not only farmers, but also the homeless, could and should benefit from the money spent going up in smoke.”
“Time to think of others instead of ourselves. I’m sure we can still have a fun New Year’s Eve without fireworks,” another added. “Just put some lights on the bridge for the world to see how we care for our fellow Australians.”
But their pleas won’t be answered.
Sydney Lord Mayor: “We can’t cancel the fireworks”.
As the signature count continued to tick over on Tuesday afternoon, Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore posted a comment on the petition, in which she wrote: “We can’t cancel the fireworks”.
While Lord Mayor Moore stated that she was moved by the public support for those affected by the drought and bushfire crisis and sympathised with the cause, she noted that there would be “little practical benefit” to axing the event.
“Our fireworks are planned 15 months in advance and most of the budget – which is largely allocated to crowd safety and cleaning measures – has already been spent,” she wrote. “And with just weeks to go, many have already booked hotels and restaurants and planned their trip to watch the fireworks. This event generates $130 million for the state economy, which helps many people.”
Lord Mayor Moore wrote that she had recently directed the council to donate over $600,000 to bushfire and drought relief and that the one million people expected to gather around the harbour for the New Year’s Eve fireworks would be encouraged to give to the Red Cross Disaster Relief and Recovery Fund.
“In all marketing materials, during the broadcast and on the night, we will be reminding those who visit our harbour and who watch at home to give generously,” she wrote.
She also used the platform to chide successive Federal Governments that, she argued, “have shamefully presided over failed climate policies” leading to more extreme weather events such as the fires. She also assured signatories that the city’s fireworks “will be carbon offset, and are biodegradable in order to reduce waste and environmental impact”.
The Federal Government has not responded to the petition.
Feature image: Getty.
Top Comments
I always laugh at the ignorance of these petition creators. Firstly, the fireworks are hosted by local councils - that is local government. The Prime Minister has zero to do with how some little local municipality organises fireworks. He has no power there at all. It reminds me of my frustration at people's idiocy asking the PM Turnbull to stop the fireworks - oh, and to stop (State govt and mostly local govt parking ticketers) having to pay to park at hospitals. Are people really this absurd that they think the PM controls everything? Do these people ever wonder why we have Mayors and Premiers? Do people not wonder what they are for? The PM has as much power to insert himself on a local council and stop the fireworks as a local Mayor or Premier has to change our taxation system; ie, zero.
Secondly, fireworks aren't paid for by the council. Corporate sponsors such as Telstra, Foxtel, KFC, local radio stations etc pay for them, the local councils just host it while plastering the area with sponsor banners. So even though councils host them, it is PRIVATE ENTERPRISE that actually puts on the fireworks. No govt can interfere with legal private enterprise functions.
Thirdly, every single year, every....single....year for the last 5 years at least from memory, people suggest we axe the fireworks for 'just this year'. You know what would happen don't you, in a land of floods one year, fires the next, then the drought the next 2 years after that? Fireworks would *never* return. Because there will always be homeless people. There will always be a flood or a bad bushfire. Or a drought. Why is it fireworks that has to go? Why not something else? Fireworks brings families together, is a childhood enjoyment (and what about the kids with cancer who enjoy the fireworks?), raises a lot of money for local organisations and businesses. It raises money for the community. It is like the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. It raises FAR MORE MONEY, than is outlayed. THAT, is why fireworks will not be axed. No council can afford to axe it. No BUSINESSES in the area can afford for it to be axed. Besides, why not have a $5 admission fee for the farmers or even donation tins/raffles for the farmers on the night? That way money can be raised for the community/local businesses, AND money raised for farmers.
Lastly, farmers are the most subsidised industry there is in Australia. They are forever being given grants, loans, subsidies, and concerts/benefits to raise money for them. When is enough enough? There *are* other people in Australia other than farmers. Why is it that you never see farmers doing charity rodeos for the homeless in the city? It is all one way. They get more than enough as it is. Far too much. It's time for the handouts to them to stop.
That's a lot to digest Salem. I agree with you on many points and can question you on others. With the moderation I'm afraid I can't engage in a debate about some of the content.
Still, I have to give you an upvote for putting it out there. :o)
"[farmers] are forever being given grants, loans, subsidies, and concerts/benefits to raise money for them. When is enough enough? There *are* other people in Australia other than farmers."
I have to say I agree with this. I understand farmers are struggling, but with all the coverage they receive, you would think they are the only one's doing it tough in Australia. People lose their source of income and struggle every day? Why is it we only hear about farmers, and are all expected to do everything we can for them?
They are a special case though. It comes back to the food security of the nation. We also value the food standards in Australia. There is more to lose as a nation than just an individual's business. The problem is everything is reactionary and seperated. You just need to look at the murry darling river plan to see how we fail at looking holistically.
You're the ignorant one, Simon Saberhagen,The petition went to Clover
Moore, Mayor of Sydney, so stop laughing. Clover Moore, the biggest
switcher/vote chaser the City of Sydney's ever had to put up. She can't
stick to any principle to save her useless life. And according to Ms
Turncoat Moore, "the Council had allocated the money and this could
not be changed" - which sounds like the Council do fund somewhat of the
fireworks event. This allocation went to clean up services and crowd
control - her quote, in the above article - yet the event hadn't even
happened yet? A very big music festival in East Gippsland was cancelled by responsible organisers AFTER 9000 people had arrived for it - and just as well, or there'd be thousands of bodies out there right now. All costs refunded, with no thought to profit, only human safety and lives. Other major cities and towns also canned their fire-works at the last minute - never mind the cost, let's show a bit of responsibility and tact instead. Now that 20 days have passed, since Salem Saberhagen aired his declarations, is there a different view? Now that thousands of Australians spent December 30/31 running for their lives, with nothing but the clothes they stood up in, the kids and the family pet? Huddled against the water's edge, hoping for a miracle? Looking at the smouldering wreckage of their homes? Still laughing, are you? Or did Simon Saberhagen join the vulgar, pushing,shoving mob whose entire priority was to get a good place to see the
fire works? And we haven't even got to the three fire fighters who have
died trying to save homes and lives. I'm sure their widows, kids and
families were cheered up no end by the fire works. A jolly good
fire works show, yeah, that works, that'll replace a husband, a father, a
son. It was a disgusting, disrespectful show which could have been
postponed until the fires were over and then could have gone ahead under safer conditions as a memorial or a tribute to those lost, and to the thousands of fire fighters who weren't out getting drunk on New Year's Eve or who weren't with the families at Christmas - because they were out on the fire line. Quite
obviously, as far as Ms Moore is concerned, the annual fire works are
for the international tourists and they must be catered for - who cares
about the Australians? The tourists go home, you know. And
furthermore, I see that by midnight on NYE, $700,000 had been raised.
Wow - with over a million people allegedly at the display, that's less
than $1 per person. Well done, Sydney. As for your whining that the
farmers get all the assistance - where the hell do you think your food
comes from? The homeless? Or the men and women on the land? As for
that stupidly ignorant remark that the farmers could do a 'charity
rodeo' - please, go back to school! Find out what farmers actually do.
Get the teachers to use words of one syllable. You obviously have no
idea. As for the fireworks putting money into the economy - it puts money into a few select pockets. Eateries, accommodation, pubs,some taxi companies and Uber drivers. The employees of these businesses,the wholesalers who supply them, their employees might get some overtime or bonuses out of it, and that'll go to their own debt/mortgage repayment. Not back into the economy. Or in the current economic climate, stashed away for a rainy day. It benefits a
few. Salem Saberhagen, you're so irresponsibly ignorant I'm surprised
you haven't been run over crossing the street against the lights because you're so arrogantly certain that 'red' means 'walk'. Try learning something before launching your ignorance so publicly.
Good balanced article. Thanks for acknowledging the net benefits of the fireworks and not just the knee jerk reaction to the initial outlay to host it.