General News
10 July, 2024
Fireworks seized by authorities near Camooweal
No fines were issued as travellers declared their illegal hauls.
Almost 100 kilograms of fireworks were seized as part of a two-day operation at the Northern Territory-Queensland border.
Operation Bright Sky was run by the state’s explosives regulator Resources Safety and Health Queensland and the Queensland Police Service following the Northern Territory’s annual Cracker Night.
Cracker Night is part of Territory Day, where for 5 hours on July 1 each year, anyone in the NT is allowed to detonate fireworks without the need for a licence or specialist training.
This year’s joint operation at the border from July 2 to July 3 seized double the weight of illegal fireworks entering Queensland than in 2023.
In total 92kg of fireworks were seized, comprising more than 5000 individual fireworks.
RSHQ explosives inspector Raymond Stewart said it was often families with young children who tried to bring fireworks into Queensland, and they didn’t always understand it was illegal.
“People need to realise these are not toys,” said Mr Stewart.
“Fireworks when used incorrectly can cause serious injury.
“In the last year or so we’ve had a Queensland man permanently blinded in both eyes, and a man in the Northern Territory had his arm partially amputated from the incorrect use of fireworks.
“At the end of the day we’re not here to be the fun police, we just want to make sure Queenslanders are safe.”
The maximum penalty for possessing illegal fireworks in Queensland is six months imprisonment, or a fine of $64,520, however there is no penalty if illegal fireworks are handed over willingly.
Seized fireworks are taken to a secure location and destroyed by RSHQ explosives inspectors.