Murder’s okay, just don’t let off crackers in the ACT

RT says:

06:53am | 25/08/09

So if I shoved a bunger into the cakehole of the ACT minister who introduced the cracker ban, and blew his stupid wowser head off, I might do only 22 months for manslaughter? Or would I do longer if convicted of illegal use of fireworks?

Toddzilla says:

08:11am | 25/08/09

The major problem with Canberra is that the government feels it should act as a nanny state for people and make decisions on their behalf about what’s good for them. The firecracker example is just the latest. There is also the stupid rule that bans poker nights at clubs and pubs (though these are readily available in every other town and city in Australia) because the government feels it would lead to people drinking more and having a good time, which is bad… mmmmkay.

And don’t get me started on the roads that have been built since self-government. There’s Flemington road - a one-lane stretch into the city that is meant to deal with a massive flow of traffic. Ditto Majura Road. And the Gungahlin Drive Extension that cost billions, but turned into a one-lane expressway (you’re lucky if you crack 30km/h on it) that was meant to revolutionise the trip from the north. In fact, it is so poorly designed and conceived that it should be a tourist attraction that highlights government ineptitude.

With all this crap going it goes without saying that the ACT has a Labor government.

G says:

08:35am | 25/08/09

I live in Canberra and LOVE it, we do not have an “obsessiveness over lawns, ” in fact if you had been here at all in the last 10 yrs you would know that most lawns are well and truly dead due to the drought we have been experiencing in that time.  Your article has merit but you should consider not “Canberra” bashing, Canberra is the best city in this country in which to raise children and for that I am very happy indeed.

Now to your comment on the ban of fireworks, I agree with you the pollies here really are pathetic but why are you making such a big thing about fireworks
“The ban is an insight into the weird psychology of many people in Canberra who will invest their time and energy into campaigns like this when they ignore the more obvious problems with the way the city is operating.” because mate if you had any grey matter that actually was worth a damn inside your head you would realise that those same people exist in EVERY town in EVERY state in Australia and that is why Canberra was the last, I repeat the last place in Australia to introduce this ban.

David Southwell says:

09:02am | 25/08/09

Tragically the dweebs, killjoys and blasted mollycoddling dog owners have finally won the day.

As an ex-Canberran I have been back there for the last two Queen’s Birthday weekends.

I have seen the delight of my brother’s and friends’ kids at letting off the backyard fireworks. Even my wife who thinks the big annual public displays are samey, boring and pointless was won over the by irresistible small magic of these evenings.

The chilly seclusion of Canberra’s suburbs was almost miraculously infused with a sense of community.

Like island castaways signalling with rockets, neighbours suddenly become aware of each other. The biggest bangs and prettiest showers get audible appreciation from over the fence and everyone scrambles to find the next crowd-pleaser in the all-too-soon exhausted plastic bag. 

Now there is officially no fun reason to visit Canberra, let alone live there.

David Southwell's wife says:

09:26am | 25/08/09

I agree David. Def no fun reason to go to canberra now.

Jo Johnson says:

09:57am | 25/08/09

At least it still has porn. Once that is made illegal, no one will go to Canberra.

Jake Zanoni says:

11:12am | 25/08/09

With the internet I don’t even understand why people would go and buy a DVD that costs $40-50.

Tom says:

12:42pm | 25/08/09

As a Canberrian the Stanhopeless Govt has bought a tear to my eye - despite being the owner of two dogs (it seems dogs going bonkers was the main reason for banning it) i was really looking forward to the day i could have a cracker night with my very young daughter - growing up in western NSW as a kiddie cracker night was awesome - now it will be something that bores the kids when the ‘oldies’ talk fondly of a time gone by ...

Nathan H says:

01:00pm | 25/08/09

I lived in Canberra from 2003 to 2007. It was one of the most wretched episodes of my entire life. When I finally moved down to Melbourne, I felt like I had just been released from prison. Canberra has no spark of life. It looks inward, rather than out. It thinks only of what it IS, not what it could be. The suburban psychology derives from it’s populace and their lack of hopes and dreams. They are the Saab driving, grey cardigan wearing public service drones who are so often the very facsimile of Stephen Grech. They want nothing more than to have nothing ever happen… ever. They want a short drive to work, a bigscreen TV, a steady paycheck and to be left alone until they die, in Canberra, from Canberra-itis.

P.S. Adelaide and Canberra are the same place. Adelaide just has the coast and some history.

marcus says:

01:36pm | 25/08/09

Canberra needs fireworks, but unfortunatly the minority ruin it for the majority who use them responsibility, as a canberran i feel betrayed by the local government, who should know that canberra is utimatly famous for porn (X-rated) and firewoks.

DL says:

01:52pm | 25/08/09

This decision comes from the fact that while there were laws prohibiting the use of fireworks outside certain hours on two days of the Queen’s birthday weekend, the laws were not observed by hooligans who carried on their lawbreaking and vandalism with impunity because the police were unable to apprehend anyone. This caused a lot if distress to the majority, most of whom own pets. 
Even if the police collared anyone did they would not get a conviction
because of the soft judges and magistrates in the ACT.
The outcome will be that the hooligans will still acquire or manufacture after market fireworks of lethal potential and still get away with it in just the same way as guns are now illegal but the crims still have them.

charlie says:

06:08pm | 25/08/09

I don’t agree with the fireworks ban but honestly it’s a bit ridiculous to have a go at the residents of Canberra because their government has now banned a product that every other State government banned years ago.
Why are the residents of Canberra any more pathetic than those of every other State that stood by whilst their own wowser governments did the exact same thing? In fact if anything the continued availablity of x-rated pornographic material (not allowed anywhere else in Australia legally) and the many extra years of firework availability compared to the rest of the country says much more about the indepedence of Canberra residents compared to the sheep inhabiting the rest of the continent (NT excluded obviously).

wald says:

12:32am | 26/08/09

Canberra is one of the most beautiful places in Australia (sshhh don’t tell anyone) and fireworks are invariably used by bored loons to disturb everyone at midnight.
The public displays are enough for the kids.

Melanie says:

01:27pm | 30/08/09

Good point Leo and an interesting analogy, but I do think you downplay the effect fireworks have on animals! It’s a good thing that they’ve banned them, but you may be right that the legislators have their priorities scrambled in a variety of areas, and that this is partly due to a provincial mindset. But fireworks are far more damaging to animals than we realise - it is more than ‘Bella whimpering’. See http://www.animalaid.org.uk/h/n/NEWS/news_living/ALL/1680//

FARLEYAna34 says:

01:21pm | 26/08/11

This is understandable that cash makes people disembarrass. But what to do when somebody doesn’t have money? The one way is to get the personal loans or sba loan.