Latest news with #NorthernTerritorians
West Australian
05-06-2025
- Politics
- West Australian
Fireworks on way to ensure Territory Day isn't a fizzer
A convoy of trucks is carting more than 100 tonnes of fireworks to ensure a territory's annual celebration of self-governance isn't a fizzer. For one day a year Northern Territorians are allowed to buy and set off their own fireworks to celebrate Territory Day, affectionately dubbed Cracker Night. But NSW authorities risked putting a dampener on the 2025 festivities after seizing the explosive cargo that was ordered for the big event on July 1. In the NT fireworks have become synonymous with the day that marks the anniversary of its self-government in 1978. Territorians are legally allowed to set them off for a five-hour period from 6pm on July 1. But the fireworks shipment had entered NSW unauthorised and was seized by the state's workplace safety watchdog, a NSW government spokesman confirmed on May 16. "While use of these fireworks is legal in the NT, they are not legal to sell and use in NSW," he said. To preserve the sparkling overhead display NT Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro went over the heads of state bureaucrats and engaged directly with NSW Premier Chris Minns and Queensland counterpart David Crisafulli. On Wednesday she confirmed negotiations had been successful and the trucks had left NSW bound for the NT via Queensland. "It's so important that Territorians get to celebrate their way, and not be held ransom by interstate decisions," she told NT News. "New South Wales and Queensland bureaucrats may have done their best to hold things up, but nothing gets in the way of Territory Day." She thanked the two state premiers for their help. In 2024, a 23-year-old man severed his arm and a 58-year-old man suffered an injury to his groin in a fireworks mishap, among a series of Territory Day incidents.
Perth Now
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Perth Now
Fireworks on way to ensure Territory Day isn't a fizzer
A convoy of trucks is carting more than 100 tonnes of fireworks to ensure a territory's annual celebration of self-governance isn't a fizzer. For one day a year Northern Territorians are allowed to buy and set off their own fireworks to celebrate Territory Day, affectionately dubbed Cracker Night. But NSW authorities risked putting a dampener on the 2025 festivities after seizing the explosive cargo that was ordered for the big event on July 1. In the NT fireworks have become synonymous with the day that marks the anniversary of its self-government in 1978. Territorians are legally allowed to set them off for a five-hour period from 6pm on July 1. But the fireworks shipment had entered NSW unauthorised and was seized by the state's workplace safety watchdog, a NSW government spokesman confirmed on May 16. "While use of these fireworks is legal in the NT, they are not legal to sell and use in NSW," he said. To preserve the sparkling overhead display NT Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro went over the heads of state bureaucrats and engaged directly with NSW Premier Chris Minns and Queensland counterpart David Crisafulli. On Wednesday she confirmed negotiations had been successful and the trucks had left NSW bound for the NT via Queensland. "It's so important that Territorians get to celebrate their way, and not be held ransom by interstate decisions," she told NT News. "New South Wales and Queensland bureaucrats may have done their best to hold things up, but nothing gets in the way of Territory Day." She thanked the two state premiers for their help. In 2024, a 23-year-old man severed his arm and a 58-year-old man suffered an injury to his groin in a fireworks mishap, among a series of Territory Day incidents.
The Age
27-05-2025
- Health
- The Age
‘Forever chemicals' found in blood of 97 per cent of Victorians
More than 97 per cent of Victorians aged over 12 have a detectable concentration of PFAS in their bloodstream, with the 'forever chemicals' more likely to be found in men than women, and more often in older people. The synthetic chemicals – perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances – are found in everyday products ranging from the linings of take-away coffee cups and pizza boxes to carpets and non-stick cookware. Once consumed, they take many years to exit the body. On Tuesday, the Australian Bureau of Statistics released national and state-level data about the prevalence of 11 types of PFAS in the Australian population and found it is almost universally detectable in people. The data was also broken down by sex and age, with PFAS concentrations in blood slightly higher in men than in women and gradually increasing from childhood to old age, peaking at age 75 and over. Data was gathered between 2022 and 2024. The findings were 'in line with expectations' as use of PFAS within products peaked between the 1980s and the early 2000s but has since fallen through efforts to reduce its usage. 'As a result, older people have been exposed to more PFAS in the past, before the decrease in use of these chemicals. This historical exposure, combined with the long elimination half-lives of many PFAS, means that levels of PFAS are likely to be higher in older people,' the ABS said. In Victoria, PFAS was detected in 97.3 per cent of people, just above the national level of 97.1 per cent. Tasmanians had the highest levels (98.9 per cent) and Northern Territorians the lowest (91.2 per cent). Stuart Khan, a professor in the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of New South Wales, said the results were 'shocking but not surprising' and broadly in line with results from studies in other countries such as the United States.
Sydney Morning Herald
27-05-2025
- Health
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘Forever chemicals' found in blood of 97 per cent of Victorians
More than 97 per cent of Victorians aged over 12 have a detectable concentration of PFAS in their bloodstream, with the 'forever chemicals' more likely to be found in men than women, and more often in older people. The synthetic chemicals – perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances – are found in everyday products ranging from the linings of take-away coffee cups and pizza boxes to carpets and non-stick cookware. Once consumed, they take many years to exit the body. On Tuesday, the Australian Bureau of Statistics released national and state-level data about the prevalence of 11 types of PFAS in the Australian population and found it is almost universally detectable in people. The data was also broken down by sex and age, with PFAS concentrations in blood slightly higher in men than in women and gradually increasing from childhood to old age, peaking at age 75 and over. Data was gathered between 2022 and 2024. The findings were 'in line with expectations' as use of PFAS within products peaked between the 1980s and the early 2000s but has since fallen through efforts to reduce its usage. 'As a result, older people have been exposed to more PFAS in the past, before the decrease in use of these chemicals. This historical exposure, combined with the long elimination half-lives of many PFAS, means that levels of PFAS are likely to be higher in older people,' the ABS said. In Victoria, PFAS was detected in 97.3 per cent of people, just above the national level of 97.1 per cent. Tasmanians had the highest levels (98.9 per cent) and Northern Territorians the lowest (91.2 per cent). Stuart Khan, a professor in the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of New South Wales, said the results were 'shocking but not surprising' and broadly in line with results from studies in other countries such as the United States.
