Fireworks are defined in regulation 3 of the Dangerous Goods Safety (Explosives) Regulations 2007 as:
“An article or substance, containing one or more explosives with or without other substances, that is designed to entertain people by producing light, sound, gas, smoke, or a combination of them, by means of an exothermic chemical reaction that does not rely on oxygen from external sources to sustain the reaction, but not a model rocket motor”.
Further information about fireworks is available in the following documents.
- Australian Code for the Transport of Explosives by Road and Rail (AEC), available from Safe Work Australia
- Australian Dangerous Goods Code (ADG Code), available from the National Transport Commission.
The use of fireworks by the general public is banned in Western Australia, except for unrestricted fireworks such as bon-bons, party poppers, Christmas crackers, throwdowns and sparklers. Fireworks events are strictly regulated to ensure that the public is safe to enjoy the wonderful spectacle of fireworks.
If you find abandoned explosives or fireworks abandoned in a public place, you must:
- immediately leave the area
- notify Western Australia Police by telephoning 131 444.
The Police will assess the situation and arrange for safe disposal with an appropriate State agency. For example, explosives such as bombs or improvised explosive devices are the responsibility of the Western Australia Police Bomb Disposal Squad, while military explosives are the responsibility of the Australian Defence Force.