Key Points
- Setting off fireworks is illegal in most states and territories.
- The summer months still see a spike in fireworks-related injuries, authorities say.
- Authorities are urging people to leave fireworks to authorised professionals.
The use of fireworks by the public is banned or severely limited across Australia.
Fireworks were banned in the Australian Capital Territory in 2009 except for approved displays, despite many people believing they can be bought freely there.
Only Tasmania and the Northern Territory allow some exceptions - and even then, there are strict rules about who buys them and when and how they're used.
Yet despite these controls, the summer months between December and February see a spike in injuries related to the illegal use of fireworks.
Narelle Beer, executive director of health and safety at WorkSafe Victoria, said she is concerned people are not getting the message that fireworks can cause serious harm.
"It's deeply concerning to see the number of people seeking emergency treatment for fireworks-related injuries is again rising, for the first time in a number of years," she told SBS News.
"In the wrong hands, fireworks are potentially deadly, and those caught using them illegally face possible heavy fines, or even imprisonment."
Who is allowed to buy fireworks in Australia?
In most states and territories, big fines are handed out for setting off fireworks.
Tasmanians are allowed to celebrate cracker night in May, but fireworks are illegal the rest of the year.
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Even then, people over the age of 18 must apply for a permit and can only hold a 45-minute firework display between 7pm and 8:30pm.
In the Northern Territory, people are exempt from a fireworks ban on Territory Day on 1 July.
In Western Australia "unrestricted fireworks", including bonbons, party poppers, Christmas crackers, throwdowns and sparklers can be purchased by the general public.
Fireworks injuries
This past financial year saw 23 people presenting at emergency departments in Victoria with injuries from fireworks - up from 16 in the previous year.
And the highest risk group is young men.
That's according to the Victorian Injury Surveillance Unit at Monash University, which says 191 people have been treated for injuries related to fireworks since 2015.
Four out of five of those injured were male, and almost a quarter were aged between 20 and 24.
The most common injury was burns (87 cases), followed by eye injuries (30) and open wounds (20).
As the country gets ready to celebrate the new year, authorities are warning Australians to leave fireworks to the professionals. Source: AAP / Clemens Bilan
"Everything from impact injuries of exploding fireworks to burns and the like, and so it's quite wide-ranging."
He said if buildings are subsequently involved in a fire then it can lead to significant injuries or potential fatalities.
How do fireworks work?
Fireworks contain a chemical rich in oxygen that reacts with a fuel.
The heat generated by that reaction is what makes the colour, spark and noise - and because it's already oxygen-rich, air is not required to sustain the reaction.
According to the Queensland government, that's what makes fireworks particularly difficult to extinguish in a firefighting situation.
And with many parts of the country already on high alert for bushfires this summer, it puts extra strain on emergency services.
Rooney says it's best to leave fireworks to the professionals.
"The only people who should be utilising fireworks are licensed pyrotechnicians, and even they need a fire permit during the danger period, which runs through the summer months."
A million people are expected to flock to Sydney Harbour this year to watch the fireworks - one of the first events broadcast around the world.
In Melbourne, more than 460,000 people are predicted to attend the New Year's Eve display.
While the full details of the shows will be revealed on the night, they're sure to be a safer - and more spectacular - option than backyard explosives.
