Thousands call for Sydney’s NYE fireworks display to be SCRAPPED and the money given to drought-stricken farmers and bushfire victims
- More than 6,500 people signed petition for Sydney fireworks to be scrapped
- They want the money to be spent on drought-stricken farmers instead
- Last year, Sydney’s New Year’s Eve fireworks cost a staggering $5.8million
- More than 250 houses were destroyed in bushfires and four people have died
Thousands of people are calling for Sydney’s New Years Eve firework display to be scrapped and the money spent on those whose lives have been destroyed by bushfires and drought.
A staggering $5.8million was spent on Sydney’s firework display last year and now more than 6,500 people have signed a Change.org petition for the money to be spent elsewhere.
The call comes in the wake of wild bushfires that tore through New South Wales and Queensland destroying more than 250 homes and killing four people.
Thousands of people are calling for Sydney’s New Years Eve firework display to be scrapped and the money spent on those whose lives have been destroyed by bushfires and drought
Every year more than one million people flock to Sydney Harbour to watch the fireworks kick off.
The first display at 9pm lasts for eight minutes and the final midnight performance lasts for 12.
‘With Australia facing drought and now catastrophic fires, decimating towns as it tears across our country, the thought of spending MILLIONS of dollars on a firework display when it could be used to support and rebuild our country instead is infuriating,’ the petition read.
‘It’s times like these when we as a nation need to look at our priorities and I believe the new year should be welcomed in in the Aussie way; by giving our fellow Australians a helping hand!’
Another petition has been organised to ask Clover Moore, Sydney’s Lord Mayor to donate a percentage of the funds to the bushfire appeal.
Wild bushfires tore through New South Wales and Queensland destroying more than 250 homes last week (pictured: Residents defend a property from a bushfire at Hillsville near Taree)
‘This petition is to respectfully ask Lord Mayor Clover Moore to donate the budget or percentage of profits Sydney NYE Fireworks to the bushfire appeal,’ the petition said.
‘Four local councils in NSW & QLD have taken the steps to cancel their fireworks and given it would be difficult for Sydney to do this we can make use of the cash maker it is.’
Locals were left stunned after a twenty minute firework display was held in Sydney Harbour during a state wide total fire ban on Wednesday night.
‘Seriously, total fire ban, nearly 10pm in a school night and there are fireworks galore going off in Sydney. P**s poor effort,’ one resident posted on Twitter.
‘One of my students told me his house almost burnt down yesterday. Now there’s fireworks exploding everywhere in Sydney. Seems a little insensitive, sending sparks everywhere at a time like this,’ another tweeted.
6,5000 people have signed a petition for the money spent on fireworks to go towards farmers affected by the drought as bushfires (pictured: a drought affected farm in Boggabri, North-Western NSW)
‘How are fireworks allowed in Sydney on a day of total fire ban? Seems somewhat hypocritical given the tough stance that has been taken against individuals,’ another local posted.
On Friday, a 51-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of starting a bushfire that reached emergency level and burned about 2000 hectares of land north-east of Armidale, NSW.
An estimated million hectares of land has been burned by bushfires across Australia following the catastrophic fire conditions.
More than $5million was spent on the Sydney fireworks last year but many believe the money should go towards those who have lost their homes in the fires (pictured: Danny Wearne standing at his property that was damaged in bushfires in Rainbow Flat, NSW)