Should they rethink - Fireworks Displays

[renormalised (Carl)]

Originally Posted by nightstalker

More crackers please

Imagine how tense it would get in here if this night fell on a new moon

You'd be able to cut the air with a knife

[Kal (Andrew)]

Originally Posted by Ian Robinson

Let the beneficiaries ( the tourist industry and all those other businesses who allegedly benefit from the New Year (and other events) pay for them then , why should they get a free ride when no one else does ?

I suppose by your reckoning that the government should cut it's $137M annual funding of tourism australia as well?

Sydney's fireworks are a world class event. The promotion of the city that they bring would pay itself off with increased tourism from the exposure. Tourism brings in money to the industry, and the industry brings in money to the government through tax revenue, from both business tax, and payroll tax. Tourism creates jobs for many Australians.

If you want to make money (even through taxation) then you need to spend money at times.

[DeanoNZL (Adrian)]

While not on par with the big displays you have in Sydney, here is 1 that was supposed to last 40 minutes, but due to an error, only went for just over 1 minute.
http://www.epicfireworks.com/blog/20...awesome-video/

[FredSnerd (Claude)]

Originally Posted by Kal

I suppose by your reckoning that the government should cut it's $137M annual funding of tourism australia as well?

Yes.

[Jen]

Well i look forward to the fireworks every year
Its a great moment for us as a family to all huddle up together and look up at the sky (like us astro geeks do) And say "wow thats pretty"



And yes i am a big kid too

[Baddad (Marty)]

Originally Posted by Jen

Well i look forward to the fireworks every year




And yes i am a big kid too

Hi Jen,

Its a great feeling to be a kid. I never want to grow up. With you on that one.

Besides that, in a kids world its all discovery, everything is new and isn't that what astronomy is all about????

Cheers Marty

[dpastern (Dave Pastern)]

Originally Posted by Omaroo

Interesting that not one of you are from Sydney

Chris - I spent 38 years living in Sydney. Just cos I live in Brissie now, and have had for the past 2 years doesn't make my comment any less worthy. ;-)

5 million to hospitals etc is better than nothing. I'm not a fan of the give more money to businesses mentality, I'd rather it go to the people. In the end, business doesn't give a rats ass about the people, only making money. If business really cared about people, then they'd share their profits, wouldn't they? Businesses make enough profit (otherwise, why would they be in business for themselves?).

Dave

[dpastern (Dave Pastern)]

Originally Posted by jjjnettie

OK then.
For those who rate the gift of sight higher than a night at the fireworks.
http://www.hollows.org.au/Single_Donation/

That's not a bad cause Jeanette, especially since I got the recent news that the optical nerve in my left eye is degenerating badly (looks like early stages of Glaucoma).

Dave

[dpastern (Dave Pastern)]

Originally Posted by Ian Robinson

Let the beneficiaries ( the tourist industry and all those other businesses who allegedly benefit from the New Year (and other events) pay for them then , why should they get a free ride when no one else does ?

Agreed. It seems that we have a lot of people on these forums who don't care about public money expenditure. I'm sure those people would be the first to whinge when they can't have some sort of public function because there's no funding...

I must repeat that I am NOT a big fish that likes taking bait...I must repeat that I am NOT a big fish that likes taking bait...I must repeat that I am NOT a big fish that likes taking bait...I must repeat that I am NOT a big fish that likes taking baitlol

Dave

edit: it's been a long day @ work...typos usually follow tiredness

[Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)]

Originally Posted by dpastern

Chris - I spent 38 years living in Sydney. Just cos I live in Brissie now, and have had for the past 2 years doesn't make my comment any less worthy. ;-)

5 million to hospitals etc is better than nothing. I'm not a fan of the give more money to businesses mentality, I'd rather it go to the people. In the end, business doesn't give a rats ass about the people, only making money. If business really cared about people, then they'd share their profits, wouldn't they? Businesses make enough profit (otherwise, why would they be in business for themselves?).

Dave

Yeah - you're right. The owners of thousands of restaurants, cafes, clothing stores, pubs, hotels, motels and stores have all of their staff work for free, and take the entire takings home themselves. Clever!

I know I was doing it wrong. Thanks for pointing me straight.

[Astro78]

Let's spend 0.01% of what the world drops during war or 'skirmishes'.

In other words let's increase the budget by a few magnitudes. seriously i don't see why not.

EDIT: Per dollar, what comes close to the fun, excitement, families, singles, you name it. But I would like to see more people coming together for fun - for any reason.

[dpastern (Dave Pastern)]

I didn't say that Chris. Stop paraphrasing what I did say and twisting it to what you wanted me to say.

Anyways, I've said my bit about the Fireworks display.

Dave

PS I never once went to see the fireworks (no interest), nor watched it on TV (again, no interest). The noise hurts my ears, and my eyes are very sensitive to bright lights. The smell upsets my allergies. And if you've ever been a pet owner that's had to deal with a distressed pet because of the noise...

[Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)]

I'm not a fan of the give more money to businesses mentality, I'd rather it go to the people.

Nah, it's exactly what you mean Dave. You don't think that business is a good thing to support - you assume that all proprietors are inherently greedy with the inference that they won't want to pay their people if they can avoid it. Wow... who do think pays the people????????? The only other source of direct payment, other than via employment by business, is the dole!

The "tourism industry" (yes, that horrible, nasty yukky thing that underpays and starves the common man) is nothing more than a collective term for a bunch of people like you and me trying to earn a living from a common souce of cash - visitors. Let's to the silly thing and scare them away shall we... then the industry won't be paid. Yay! A win for the common man...

[Jules76 (Julian)]

Let's just save all the hassle and ban everything that can be seen as a waste.

[marki]

I thought I would comment before this thread gets locked . I have been in Sydney twice when the fireworks were on and it is pretty spectacular. However, I think they could do it for 4 million and nobody would notice (I will just bring my banjo and play dueling guitars ). Some of the comments made against people who do not live in NSW are a bit off. From our persepective (Perthites) the fireworks are a magnet for drunken hoons who are out to fight anybody they can. Now this would be ok (add to the nights entertainment) if some of the 5 million was spent on buying popcorn for the onlookers as there is nothing like a bunch of drunk yobs punching it out with the riot squad by the river at 12.30pm under the gentle reflections of the city lighting and the cracking of the fireworks certainly adds the thud of fists on face. A few dollars for beer would be appreciated as well.

Mark

[norm]

Bring on the fireworks I say. If it makes a child smile and watch in awe all the better.

If it means a bunch of sick kids can get a night out of hospital and watch from Kirribilli House what harm is done?

Seems to be a lot of grouches and kill joys here these days.

Chris hit the nail on the head by saying it's government and non government management deficiencies, corruption and greedy self interest which have exacerbated these problems, not a lack of money.

Ditto on above.

Norm

[slippo74 (Cristiano)]

Wow! 5 millions in fireworks...!!! Such a big deal but will be terrific! They are going to blow away my place considering I'm living so close to the Harbour bridge.

BTW for only 500k I can perform a jump from the bridge naked and with 2 fireworks in my hands. Probably not a nice thing to see, but can you image an Italian yelling "mamma miaaaaaaa" all the way before touch the water

Cheers, Cristiano.

[Ian Robinson]

Originally Posted by FredSnerd

Yes.

I'll say yes too .

Australia's a great place to have a holiday , if the tourism industry wants foreign visitors to come and spend here, then since they profit from it , they should also pay for the promotion of Australia overseas as a destination. Not so cheap for them now .... with such a strong AUD.

Not that they need to, as anyone overseas who does their homework will know this a worthwhile place to visit, even better, it's safe , the people are friendly and we share a culture with our main sources of visitors.

BTW : I've never bothered travelling to Sydney for any "big events" , and never plan too , don't like the place, don't like driving or trying to get around there by public transport , and don't like the crowds you'll find at there kind of events .
Will I watch it on TV ? .... maybe .... unless I'm doing something more interesting at home , we never go out on NYE , rather have a quite night at home (where we are nice safe and comfy) . The party addicts , boozers and shardeney set are welcome to it.

[matt]

Damn!!! There are some killjoys around here.

[Astro78]

Originally Posted by Ian Robinson

I'll say yes too .

Ian I was actually writing "We agree for once, what a cool world". Alas just re-read before posting and you're actually proposing a cut to Aus tourism...LOL

One day perhaps (we'll agree) Take care until that day