Given the millions of public dollars that are converted to light, noise and smoke tonight…..
Are Public Funded Fireworks a Waste of Money?
[Deactivated] on 31/12/2017 - 14:06
Last edited 31/12/2017 - 16:46 by 1 other user
Last edited 31/12/2017 - 16:46 by 1 other user
Poll Options
- 644No
- 363Yes
Comments
True, then again too many idiots got hold of fireworks and were misusing it that ruined it for the rest of us lol
Maybe, but that seems to be very logically faulty in way that has really stuffed things up for most of us. What I mean is that our lords and masters in government love to dictate based on the actions (and desires) of minorities. So we have a handful of idiots who play with fireworks and get their fingers burned, now we ALL have to miss out on the harmless fun of the neighbourhood bonfire night with crackers. A handful of kids get scalded with hot water each year so now we ALL have to suffer with hot water that is stuck at 50 degrees (at least in QLD). How about we stop over reacting (Or over legislating)to every negative event that happens in life? How about if people have more freedom, including the freedom to do stupid things then maybe more people will have the ability to learn and grow from those mistakes and in the end we end up with less idiots and not, as it seems now, more of them? Just a thought. :)
Probably cheaper than if people were to buy their own fireworks to light at home and cause suburban fires, injuries, noise complaints, etc. The cost of police, ambulance and fire services to sort those out will be just as high.
Yes! Illegal fireworks are more entertaining to watch. :)
Idiots using illegal fireworks FTFY
They’re the ‘bread and circuses’ of the modern day. Great (free) entertainment for families and a very good way of promoting tourism to our shores. Just lock up your pets!
It's pretty exciting for kids.
Councils spend 80k to upgrade a 5metre by 5 metre park with new grass and 3 bushes, 20k on fireworks is nothing by local council is nothing.
Yes I know every city has a major one that costs a fortune.
fine seats.
my council spent 10 million on a park
At least a park is forever, and everyone. Not gone in 60 seconds.
If the price tag is too great for you, console yourself in the knowledge that whatever they pend money on, they are likely to waste and overspend.
And its not always their fault, they are bound to take advice from the lawyers, and they don't have to disclose anything their client's tell them, so can take most of the money from most of the crooks, keep it all a permasecret and then tell the Council what it must do.
making loud noises
http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/live/report-local-issues/…
Noise complaints
SafeWork NSW is responsible for regulating and investigating fireworks issues, including noise. In the first instance, fireworks noise complaints should be directed to SafeWork NSW:
SafeWork NSW
13 10 50
[email protected]I'm sure many would welcome the diversion, along with the suddenly more generous drunken revelers. If various governments didn't spend the money on fireworks, do you really think they would house any more homeless people? Doubt it…
Yes it is since the homeless people cost money to society while the fireworks make money through tourism and you say hundreds of thousands but it is more like a hundred thousand through the whole of australia. Now if you want to talk about social or environmental costs you might have a compelling argument there however there are arguments for increasing the social benefit to society through cultural sharing.
There are arguments about wasting funds that could benefit those less fortunate however fireworks can increase tourism which increases profits nd increases the chance for some of the homeless to get out of ther despair through employment.
Australia is a society that is set up so that the possibility of being homeless is very low due to our social welfare system. However it is understandabke that some of the long term homeless need special care and support to get themselves out of the spiral of destitution which is true
If you want to defeat homelessness, then you need to defeat other systematic social issues regarding mental health that need more study and understanding in order to gain support, issues that may very well lead to symptoms such as depression, drug use, crime and homelessness.funding homelessness is a bandaid as it is not about a lack of money. Prevention of homelessness through understanding and accpetance of those with certain mental health challenges is the solution.
Enjoy the fireworks next time and try not to see it as a scapegoat.
They have made their choice of what is excellent use of their money. Dont think they should be complain about how other people make theirs.
They might see an increased donation from tourists, so yes, you might be right.
1 million people expected to be around Sydney Harbour tonight for fireworks…….
Can you believe fireworks was invented for entertainment way before its use for gunpowder? I think it's fascinating that after so many centuries, we are still amused by such simple form of art. What's so bad about keeping it?
I suspect it was discovered by accident. Thousands (?) of years ago some poor Chinese peasant lost an eye, and the rest is history…
The truth is even crazier, it wasn't an no name peasant but an alchemist appointed by the emperor for finding the elixir of immortal. Gunpowder was then like all chemical findings, discovered accidentally by this said alchemist and the rest is history.
fun fact, in Chinese it's still called fire portion instead of gunpowder due to its connection to medicine.
Nothing "simple" about fireworks and gunpowder at all. DO you know how easy it is to really f**k up with them?
Frankly, I think that "bang for buck" the fireworks provide a lot of entertainment value. Our politicians waste a lot of money on stupider things. Cough - Same Sex Marriage poll - cough.
I completely agree with Same Sex Marriage, however, they could've got the same result by looking at the Poll figures and then doing their sodding job. Why is this legislation any different to the myriad of laws these guys pass all the time?
Did you even read his comment? O.o he said the money used for the poll was a waste, not the law.
Clearly the money spent on teaching reading comprehension was a waste too.
The survey was ridiculous. The government should have just done what they were elected to do, and actually passed the law without wasting a truckload of cash.
In case anyone was wondering the poll cost $80 million
The 2016 fireworks cost around $7 million. About 1.6 million people attended this years fireworks. The worldwide audience is estimated at 1 billion people.
As much as I love fireworks, I agree they are a complete waste of money and no doubt very bad for the environment. I'd much rather the money be spent on some other sort of free food/entertainment for everyone, or something useful for the community
Sydney spends around $7 million on the event. Estimations are that it pumps about $160 million into the local economy. The bill is footed by the Sydney of City (ie, Sydney ratepayers) so the same community paying for it is the one reaping the rewards from it. Not only that but it’s one of the best international advertisements for tourism Australia has. So no, not a waste of money no matter how you look at it.
THose estimates are bullshit.
It costs far more than 7M to host the fireworks. The "cost" of the pyrotechnic company may be $7m, but there are many many other costs.
Extra police and misc security, that must be millions just for them. THe cleaning cost must also run into millions. THere are probably other factors that cost money but why ignore the facts to ruin a good story.
Uh, no. Sorry to dispute your no doubt expert opinion, but heres the budget for the 2015 NYE. $7m was the total cost. $900k was the cost of the fireworks (those facts you were after)
http://www.afr.com/news/45k-per-minute-sydneys-new-years-eve…Yeah, there’s probably other costs not covered under that budget, such as the extra policing which I assume the state covers, but they are all clearly minuscule when compared to value of 1.5 million people (a huge portion being international tourists here specifically for NYE) flooding into the city and filling every hotel, restaurant and bar in the city to capacity.
Is this a joke ?
THe person who wrote that article should be ashamed that they are so silly they dont understand the total costs of everything is a bit more than just the fireworks and the team behind it.
http://www.afr.com/news/45k-per-minute-sydneys-new-years-eve…
The Australian Financial Review can reveal the City of Sydney has paid pyrotechnician Fodi Fireworks $905,000 for the fireworks and preparation.
Yeah, there’s probably other costs not covered under that budget, such as the extra policing which I assume the state covers
Thats right, the taxpayer covers it, and thats not free.
but they are all clearly minuscule when compared to value of 1.5 million people (a huge portion being international tourists here specifically for NYE) flooding into the city and filling every hotel, restaurant and bar in the city to capacity.
So if its such a success and they are making millions, why dont all these hotels contribute to the fireworks ?
WHy shoudl i pay my taxes and subsidize the entire event so mega hotels in the city make millions ?
You can at least enjoy the show rather than some public money wasted elsewhere unseen.
Economic Multiplier = Good
It's absolutely not a water of money. It is enjoyed by millions of people across the world.
*waste
I see the display at Terrigal on the NSW Central Coast got excess bang for their buck this year!
we need joy in life. inner joy. but we find it in external transient celebrations. at the same time there is an underclass savagely created by the free market capitalist system abetted by politicians in bed with their lobby groups. is there a better use of the money?
Melbourne is boasting they had the most expensive display…obviously didn't use Ozbargain to find a deal. Great displays but over the top, they are never synchronized with the music properly and get boring after 5 mins..with just more of the same.
Melbourne is boasting they had the most expensive display
I stayed in the CBD and watched them. If they had the most expensive display, they need to question what happened to all that money. By the time it was finished, Sydney was only half done and 10x better too.
. If they had the most expensive display, they need to question what happened to all that money.
Critics got called party poopers and what not when this question was raised. I don't remember what year it was but one time but a city had boasted it upped the budget by a massive amount, but to me anyway looked the same as previous years. And instead of being able to answer why or how it was more expensive discussion was just shut down by throwing out the "anti-fireworks/celebration" line.
Unless someone can show the difference in quality or flow on revenue between $5M, $10M or $20M I doubt the difference will be anything worth it.
I watched from the beach and it looked prob worse this time imo. Mostly just low white sparklers or whatever the term is.
indeed, melbourne lacks a solid landmark to make the fireworks look extra spectacular and at the savings of 1million dollars would cutting the fireworks from ten min to five make anyone mad?
They use our tax money for the fireworks
They use our tax money for the fireworks
the fireworks in sydney harbour were funded by the city of sydney.
were funded by the city of sydney.
And the City of Sydney gets money from? … baking bread?
Or by a "tax" called Rates?Justino is from vic and you're from the gc. Neither of you contributed any taxes to the city of Sydney.
no they use rate payers money, i.e. the same people getting the many fold benefits from the event.
Anything that brings a smile to somebody's face is worth every cent.
Only a scrooge would think fireworks are a waste of money.Fire works are a waste of money, the terrorists will provide explosions for free.
Can you please give me $10k ?
I promise to smile.
Please let the new generation enjoy the fireworks. Cant imagine people actually think stopping this once a year event.
The fireworks achieve a return on investment many times over. It's absolutely worth in a dollar value for the local economy.
The fireworks cost $7.2M in 14/15. If less than one thousand extra Chinese tourists show up to Sydney to spend money because they saw the fireworks on television and thought 'this will make a great winter holiday destination', it has achieved a return on investment for the economy as a whole.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-07-15/chinese-tourists-spend…
"Chinese tourists spent an average of nearly $8,000 a visit last year"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sydney_New_Year%27s_Eve
It is a REALLY CHEAP form of advertising.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-07-15/chinese-tourists-spend…
"Chinese tourists spent an average of nearly $8,000 a visit last year"
Yeh they spend $8k on buses/hotels/restaurants mostly owned by chinese companies, that is of course if those figures are true.
At one point they were discussing in Brisbane how they could use that budget to install and operate a year round nightly light show similar to Hong Kong’s. The designer of that light display even was talking about it.
Obviously never took off though because somehow fireworks turns most people into kids again.
It’s kind of a waste but I don’t see that tradition ending anytime soon hehe
A waste of money is the countless contracts given out to private companies that pay exorbitant amounts in "consultant" fees (ie. Bribes), budget over runs, technical errors and ultimately redundant outcomes.
Myki, NBN, power grid "upgrade", "green" power, public opinion surveys, road signs to tell you to obey road signs, importing serial criminals… Fix these first. TYVM
Still remember when you could buy bag of fire crackers from kmart for like $20 for a small bag and $50 for a big one also corner stores use to sell pack of 10 crazy jacks or jumping jacks for like a $1 until people started burning them selves. :(
These events help the economy, encourage people to go out on the night and spend money. Looks a bit of waste, but all major cities do it, it will be awkward if Sydney does not do fireworks.
I propose to have lap dancers lining across the top of harbour bridge for 2019 one. Surely would make worldwide headline.
Some of you guys don't seem to realize, but this actually stimulates the economy and brings more money INTO the country than what is spent on the fireworks.
Got some statistics to back up that assertion?
Anecdotes = statistical data now, good to know.
Went and took the kids to the Southbank display last night. Left home at 8pm, came back at 10pm. Over those 2 hours I spent over $100 on food, parking, etc. Perhaps I should have just slowly driven down the motorway instead of putting my money back into the economy.
i'm gona say 'no' but deep down i say 'yes'
what is a waste is $2 bn to build 2 stadiums
Agreed. Isn't it better to build one new stadium where its needed, or better yet distribute that money towards refurbishing existing facilities across NSW?
Oh wait, that makes too much sense for our government.
I'm curious how we get back the millions for the ssm postal survey that wasn't needed.
Stop the fireworks and in a couple of decades you will have a generation saying things like "What do you mean you don't know that fireworks are? Back in my days…"
Isn't this an IELTS topic for writing? ahahahhahaha
They are an investment I would say. Bring the tourist $$ in.
The re-construction of ANZ and Allianz stadium though………. can someone please start a parliamentary inquest in to it?
I think the small fireworks at darling harbour every week is kind of waste money and unnecessary. But the new year one is a good way for celebrating and attracting tourists.
Are we sure this is public money? Or simply City of Sydney's weekly parking fines revenue put into some use?
Are Public Funded Fireworks a Waste of Money?
You know people are entitled to their pyrotechnical proclivities.
Let there be a thousand Kamuros bloom, as far as I’m concerned,
But I AIN’T spendin’ any time on it, because in the mean time,
every three months, a person is torn to pieces by a crocodile in North Queensland
Ok great, so after the fireworks gone and the tourists left, give us taxpayers our money back since it's generating all that income to pay for itself.
Fireworks displays are funded by the councils. If you saw the CBD fireworks but don't live in the CBD, then you didn't actually pay for them so stop complaining and just enjoy them.
i had to look that up, but you're right. CoS paid for it.
Sure. They waste as much money as public parks, beaches, ponds, lakes, rivers, reserves, botanical gardens, bike paths, statues, decorations, community centres and countless other programs that don't bring in direct income but promote tourism or their actual intended purpose of increasing public happiness and wellness.
Agreed. I think we should ban all forms of cultural festivities, leisure and entertainment.
*all publicly funded cultural festivities, ect.
Can you please stop being an old prude? Fireworks are fun, especially for kids.
I'm sure as a kid you went to events with Fireworks and found the whole thing enjoyable.
As a side note, if you prudes didnt make Fireworks illegal to buy then we could buy them and have our own private events.
You’re just a Sadie, OP.
Surely you have something else to whinge about?
They're less of a waste of money than say locking up asylum seekers on a tropical island
You obviously dont understand WHY locking those people works. Locking a few, sends a message to thousands not to try.
Most of those "refugees" never gets a job, so that means a house, the dole and a lot more for LIFE. That means every refugee costs millions from beginning to end. Now the cost of the "few" on those detention centers may be the same, without this, the numbers of refugees would be 10x or maybe 50x larger. The governments welfare budget would double in less than 10 years. Welfare makes up nearly 1/2 of all the budget. Are you willing to pay 50% more tax ?
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/opinion/columnists/end-the-b…
For example, the employment rate of humanitarian migrants from Afghanistan was recorded at only 9 per cent - note this is not the unemployment rate - five years after settlement and nearly 94 per cent of households from Afghanistan received Centrelink payments.
Did you really think people with no english, no skills for a modern country would ever get a job ?
False
Wow dont go over board with facts.
Then again you cant argue with my statements which uses government facts.
Maybe you should travel to Melbourne and tell them to bring in more Sudanese/Somali refugees ….
Lotterywest Pays for Perth's Major fireworks on Aussie day so thanks gamblers :)
Fireworks make money!
It's due to increased tourism, the gov gets $$$ via GST.
Not sure if this is relevant, but have the Sydney midnight fireworks been shortened from previous years? I seem to remember them going on for longer?
I think they are a waste of money. Despite what the media tell us the entire world is not avidly sat around their TVs watching live coverage of the Sydney fireworks in the middle of their days. Many might see a glimpse of it in a compilation of NYE clips from around the world if they watch the news the next day but that's about it. However the fireworks thing isn't going away as many nations seem to now be trying to outdo each other. London for example never used to do NYE fireworks but now has a big display.
I get the tourist argument but would bet that a fair chunk of those tourists would be in Sydney spending their money anyway regardless of the fireworks as it is peak summer season. Anyone in Sydney can just observe how many overseas visitors there are over the next couple of months with no big fireworks displays on offer. It may effect the timing of a trip for some, but not the idea of coming to Australia itself. How many are really here just because of NYE? A pretty small percentage is my guess and certainly not enough to claim that the fireworks pay for themselves.
Given the millions of people who turn up to see them, no.
What are you expecting people do at 12 midnight.
I would rather that than the money going to pollies’ pensions and surfie dude freebies
From a cynical perspective, probably. However, I'm a fan of 'wasting' money if it brings joy to people which fireworks generally do. Otherwise we could say the same about Christmas, birthdays, and other events. A waste of time and money for people to exchange gifts only to eventually break even in a monetary sense.
You have to spend money to make money. If we had no publicly funded fireworks then the fireworks on our "festival state" number plates would be a lie.
never stopped qld. "smart state"
The joy it brings to people is worth every cent, the smile on my daughter's face says it all. Bringing the family together to enjoy a special moment, you don't get that from wheel of fortune do you?
wait, you can't buy your own fireworks here??