17 July 2013

Skyfire might have to tighten its belt

| Barcham
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That’s silly. Skyfire doesn’t wear a belt.

The ACT Government has raised the cost of dangerous substances licenses which covers, amongst other things, fireworks.

This will cause Skyfire’s costs to skyrocket.

Sorry about that, I couldn’t resist.

Andrew Blyth from the ACT Chamber of Commerce says fee increases vary from 250 per cent to 5,000 per cent.

“This is essentially a tax on safety, when you consider that some of these fees were as little as $18 and are now going to be $1,000, that is a big hit for any small business,” he said.

“This will also have potentially an impact on the Skyfire event.”

Mr Blyth is calling on Chief Minister Katy Gallagher to intervene.

“What troubled us in addition was that there was no reason given for this extraordinary and excessive increase by the ACT Government,” he said.

Bob Leeson from Tablelands Explosives says his company will be forced to pass on the costs.

He says the cost of a blasting permit has increased from $465 to more than $1,200.

[Story from ABC News]

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magiccar9 said :

Oh no! We’re in debt…. Quick let’s tax the crap out of random things and hope people won’t notice. Never mind that skyfire brings tourists from across all borders and their coin too.

It is possible for the government to make changes to taxes with the idea that it will benefit other areas, reduce taxes elsewhere & improve the general economy. True story.

Skyfire is a 15 minute fireworks show at Lake Burley Griffin in Canberra. It’s not exactly a tourist attraction. If anything, it probably has a negative effect on tourism.

Jim Jones said :

Well, you learn something new every day. I had no idea people were that into fireworks.

The more plausible attraction would be the opportunity to hear “The Final Countdown”, “In the Air Tonight” and “Bohemian Rhapsody” seamlessly mixed in with all the hits you want to hear.

Really?! The cost of the permit has gone up by $735? I wonder just how many of those big bungers (such as they use at SkyFire) could you buy for that much? It sounds like small fries compared to the cost of putting on a show such as SkyFire…

bundah said :

Outside of Sydney New Years Eve fireworks it’s quite possible that Skyfire is the biggest yearly fireworks extravaganza in Oz so it’s sorta unsurprising that some interstaters check it out.

Well, you learn something new every day. I had no idea people were that into fireworks.

Outside of Sydney New Years Eve fireworks it’s quite possible that Skyfire is the biggest yearly fireworks extravaganza in Oz so it’s sorta unsurprising that some interstaters check it out.

magiccar9 said :

Jim Jones said :

magiccar9 said :

Oh no! We’re in debt…. Quick let’s tax the crap out of random things and hope people won’t notice. Never mind that skyfire brings tourists from across all borders and their coin too.

I kinda agree but … does skyfire bring tourists ‘from across all borders’?

Floriade and the Gallery and Questacon and the rest, sure. But Skyfire? Who in all hell travels across the border to see some fireworks with a sh1thouse soundtrack?

Sure it does. I know several families who make the annual trip, some from Melbourne and some from NSW. They say its because its a spectacular hard to find in other states (except of course at new years).

People drive all the way from Melbourne just to watch fireworks?

I find that incredibly hard to believe. Surely Melbourne’s not that boring.

Jim Jones said :

magiccar9 said :

Oh no! We’re in debt…. Quick let’s tax the crap out of random things and hope people won’t notice. Never mind that skyfire brings tourists from across all borders and their coin too.

I kinda agree but … does skyfire bring tourists ‘from across all borders’?

Floriade and the Gallery and Questacon and the rest, sure. But Skyfire? Who in all hell travels across the border to see some fireworks with a sh1thouse soundtrack?

Sure it does. I know several families who make the annual trip, some from Melbourne and some from NSW. They say its because its a spectacular hard to find in other states (except of course at new years).

Whilst I could well appreciate that a cost increase from $18 to $1000 for a fireworks licence may well deter smaller events, it is absolutely and utterly laughable that an event like Skyfire could be impacted as a result.

To me having people like Canberra FM who run Skyfire whining really takes away from the real impact of this change.

magiccar9 said :

Never mind that skyfire brings tourists from across all borders and their coin too.

Don’t we only really have one border?

While they are winding it back, can they bring back consumer fireworks?

Hargreaves and his famous cat might have left the building but the animosity towards fireworks continues. Why don’t they just say they’re canning it on wowser grounds and be done with it.

magiccar9 said :

Oh no! We’re in debt…. Quick let’s tax the crap out of random things and hope people won’t notice. Never mind that skyfire brings tourists from across all borders and their coin too.

I kinda agree but … does skyfire bring tourists ‘from across all borders’?

Floriade and the Gallery and Questacon and the rest, sure. But Skyfire? Who in all hell travels across the border to see some fireworks with a sh1thouse soundtrack?

Oh no! We’re in debt…. Quick let’s tax the crap out of random things and hope people won’t notice. Never mind that skyfire brings tourists from across all borders and their coin too.

The blasted ACT gummint needs to implode!

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