Source : PortMac.News | Independent :
Source : PortMac.News | Independent | News Story:
NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro says Sydney Harbour's New Year's Eve fireworks should be cancelled as the risk of them sparking bushfires is "too high".
"If regional areas have had fireworks banned, then let's not have two classes of citizens," he wrote.
"We're all in this together."
There have been calls for the fireworks to be scrapped because of safety concerns and to show solidarity with the regions affected by this summer's bushfire crisis.
The NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) has not ruled out cancelling the fireworks if conditions prove to be too risky.
It will wait until this afternoon to make a final decision.
The City of Sydney has maintained that cancelling the event would have "little practical benefit for affected communities".
The event, which costs about $6 million, brings in about $130 million in tourism income and is watched by 1 billion people worldwide, the council said.
"Cancelling the event would seriously hurt Sydney businesses," it said.
In response to Mr Barilaro's tweet, a spokesperson from the City of Sydney said it had nothing to add beyond previous statements.
Yesterday, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the fireworks should go ahead.
"If it is safe to do so, we should continue to do it as we have done every other year," she said.
Firework displays across regional areas cancelled or postponed include Berry, Shoalhaven, Huskisson, Armidale, Port Macquarie and Tweed Heads.
The City of Sydney says more than 100,000 fireworks are set to create a "pyrotechnicolour extravaganza", with 1 million people expected to line the harbour tomorrow night.
The Council has asked people to donate to the Red Cross Disaster Relief and Recovery Fund.
It said it had already donated $300,000 to the Red Cross, $300,000 to the Country Women's Association and $20,000 to animal rescue organisation Wires for bushfire relief.