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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 4 Hansard (11 April) . . Page.. 1161 ..

� Review of the Sale, Use and Availability of Fireworks in the ACT 1999. An estimate provided by industry for the 1999 report was approximately $2 million per annum. As noted in the report, advice received from the industry in 1986 was that the two weeks 'fireworks season' was worth $15 million.

� Status Report on the Fireworks Season 2000. No estimate of dollar value made, number of containers for one retailer estimated to be 18.

� Status Report on Fireworks 2001. Based on anecdotal information where a container of fireworks can retail from between $200,000 to $1 million - then based on 7 containers that were notified by Customs, the value may have been between $1.5 million and $7 million. It is not known if all these fireworks were retailed in the ACT.

2. What is the regulatory regime for the (a) sale, (b) manufacture and (c) use of fireworks?

Licenses are required for the sale and manufacture of fireworks and permits are required for the use of fireworks. The licensing regime is contained in the Dangerous Goods Act 1975 and its regulations.

3. Is there a licensing system for the sale, manufacture and use of fireworks?

Yes. See Question 2 above.

4. What are the requirements for a person to obtain a license for the sale or manufacture or use of fireworks?

A person must apply to the Chief Inspector of Dangerous Goods. Matters that the Chief Inspector of Dangerous Goods must consider are specified in the Dangerous Goods Act 1975 and its regulations.

There are specific provisions in sections related to the various licence and permit provisions. Generally the criteria are that:

- the licence holder must be a fit and proper person

- the goods must be manufactured and stored in a safe manner

- information about the storage arrangements is provided and approved

- information about the type of explosive is provided so that appropriate storage can be assessed

- the class of fireworks called 'shopgoods' must be certified before sale

- sales of shopgoods fireworks must only be to permit holders

- sales of display fireworks can only be to persons with either a special permit, general permit or shotfirer's licence.

The issuing of licences requires the provision of specific information for each situation/location and the Chief Inspector of Dangerous Goods takes into account public safety issues where relevant.

5. How many inspectors are employed by the department or regulatory authority to monitor the sale, manufacture or use of fireworks?

There are five inspectors in ACT WorkCover who inspect nine classes of dangerous goods under the Dangerous Goods Act. During the fireworks season other staff within Government are delegated specific powers under the Act.

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