Territory Day is a holiday widely celebrated in the Northern Territory of Australia on 1 July that commemorates the territory achieving self-government in 1978.[1][2] The holiday has been famously commemorated with fireworks since the early 1980s. Popularly known as Cracker Night, Territorians are provided five hours to legally blow up fireworks without needing a permit or special training, the only instance of its kind in Australia.[3]
| Territory Day | |
|---|---|
 Fireworks going off to celebrate Territory Day 2008 in The Gardens, Northern Territory | |
| Also called | "Cracker Night" (for night celebrations) |
| Observed by | Residents of the Northern Territory |
| Type | Patriotic |
| Celebrations | Widespread use of fireworks without permit requirements |
| Date | 1 July |
| Frequency | Annual |
| First time | 1978 |
Background
editAfter decades of efforts to achieve self-government, Prime Minister Gough Whitlam pledged in 1974 to grant the territory self-rule, which went into effect on 1 July 1978. The implementation of self-government was considered significant as it allowed for Territorians to purchase freehold land. This proved a boon to commercial development in the territory, allowing for the construction of hotels, casinos, and other tourist attractions.[1]
History of the holiday
editOn 1 July 1978, over 6,000 Territorians gathered at the Darwin Cenotaph in celebration of self-governance status and the inaugural Northern Territory flag-raising: This would later be acknowledged as the first Territory Day.[4]
Beginning in the early 1980s, the use of fireworks became a staple of the holiday.[3] Paul Everingham, then-serving as the first Chief Minister of the Northern Territory, said that "controlled pyrotechnic displays will be encouraged" on the holiday.[4] Under Northern Territory law, on 1 July, individuals aged 18 years and older are allowed to legally purchase fireworks without a permit between 9 AM and 9 PM, and are only permitted to set them off between 6 PM and 11 PM.[5][6]
On Territory Day 2015, an estimated 25,000 Territorians gathered in Darwin for a "much-hyped pyrotechnics display.[7] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia, Territory Day celebrations were called off in 2020.[8] In 2021, then-tourism minister Natasha Fyles announced that the holiday would resume in 2021, with alternative rock band Eskimo Joe joining the lineup at the celebration in Darwin.[9]
Public holiday proposals
editThe possibility of making Territory Day a formal public holiday in Australia has been considered by the territorial government at various times. In 2015, then-Chief Minister Adam Giles floated the possibility of making Territory Day a public holiday by "swapping it with an existing one". According to Giles, he abandoned the proposal when "Territorians were divided" about replacing another public holiday with Territory Day.[10]
Controversies
editFire risks
editDue to the widespread use of fireworks on Territory Day, territorial and local leaders have urged caution in order to avoid dangerous accidents. On Territory Day 2019, seventeen Territorians were sent to the hospital due to "minor burns, lacerations and ear related injuries".[11] Commentators have noted that the event poses special risks in rural communities near Darwin, as July is "associated with acute fire risk" in the region.[12]
Safety incidents
editOn Territory Day 2023, a mishap involving a firework explosion led to a man's arm being severed below his elbow. A spokesperson for the St John ambulence service said "the portion of the amputated limb was transported with the patient" to the hospital.[13]
Impact on other states
editThe smuggling of fireworks purchased legally on Territory Day to Western Australia has reportedly become a "top priority [for police] in Western Australia", where possession of fireworks without a permit is strictly forbidden. In 2019, illegal fireworks purchased in the Northern Territory was believed to have sparked a bushfire in the Western Australian town of Broome.[14]
References
edit- ^ a b "History of Self Government". Territory Day (Government of the Northern Territory). 2020-05-13. Retrieved 2022-07-01.
- ^ Zhuang, Yan (2023-07-02). "Fireworks for All, One Day Only, in Australia's Last Frontier". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-07-02.
- ^ a b Perera, Alicia (2022-06-30). "'Final frontier': The last place in Australia you can buy and blow up explosives, for one day". ABC News. Retrieved 2022-07-01.
- ^ a b "1 July is Territory Day - It's Our Day". NT News. June 25, 2015. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
- ^ Janagaraj, Priya (May 2019). "Fireworks related injury Northern Territory 2018" (PDF). Centre for Disease Control Northern Territory. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
- ^ Anthony, Sharwood (July 1, 2014). "Our salute to Territory Day, when Northern Territory locals set off ridiculous amounts of fireworks". News.com.au. Retrieved August 7, 2022.
- ^ Davidson, Helen (2015-07-02). "Northern Territory in a day: excess, destruction, beauty and recklessness". the Guardian. Retrieved 2022-07-02.
- ^ Vivian, Steve (2021-06-10). "NT's 'cracker night' to go ahead after Territory Day cancelled in 2020". ABC News. Retrieved 2022-07-02.
- ^ Morgan, Thomas (2021-06-10). "Cracker Night returns as Eskimo Joe, Hot Dub Time Machine join Territory Day line-up". The West Australian. Retrieved 2022-08-07.
- ^ Wood, Dave (February 18, 2015). "Territory Day will not become a public holiday after NT Government surveyed public".
- ^ Roberts, Lauren (July 5, 2019). "Territory Day 'shouldn't be a public holiday'". NT News.
- ^ Heaney, Chelsea (2021-08-26). "Fireworks in fire season? The plan has some people alarmed ahead of Territory Day". ABC News. Retrieved 2022-07-02.
- ^ Shepherd, Tory (2023-07-02). "Man's arm severed below elbow in fireworks explosion near Darwin". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-07-02.
- ^ Meldrum, Chris (2019-10-10). "Illegal fireworks from the NT spark 'devastating' bushfires in WA". ABC News. Retrieved 2022-07-02.