Forums > Social Discussion > Fire footbags banned in WA - a slippery slope?

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WirewoodGOLD Member
journeyman
90 posts
Location: Perth, West Australia


Posted:
Ok, just saw this on the tv but I can't find a news report to link to, just the press release and the gazzete:

The press release

and:

The gazette



Basically the WA Govt just banned fire footbags with no warning or consultation for the following reasons:



" - When used as intended, the product becomes a flaming ball and/or missile, with the clear potential to cause serious burns to the user either by directly burning the skin or by igniting clothing or by igniting nearby flammable materials.



- Fire Authorities have advised that in their opinion, any plaything linked to flammable liquid and fire has the potential to ignite combustibles or burn the person playing with the product.



- Fire Authorities have also advised that the potential for domestic and bush fires in built or natural environments is very real from the use, and in particular the careless use, of these products."



I've played with fire footbags in the past (not anymore thanks to early-onset arthritis in me hip) and while I was pretty crap at it I didn't set anything on fire or injure myself or others. Playing with matches can lead to injury and/or property damage too ya know.



WA is extremely flammable in summer and ALL forms of fire/heat should be used with care and caution (including barbecues, generators and cigarettes). You would have to be pretty daft to play with a flaming hack anywhere other than a large sealed area, wet grass or on a beach. What's more is the majority of human related bushfires in WA are set by arsonists but I don't see a ban on matches, lighters, cigarettes etc



Now if fire footbags can be banned for the stated reasons, what's to stop them banning of ALL fire toys? Take note of the second and third reasons - worrying eh? This has me particularly concerned as I don't think I will every qualify as a performer (the only technicality which allows you to still purchase a fire footbag).



And (gosh, this must be my biggest post ever) the tv news footage showed some very skilled fire footbagging - bigs ups to the performers. It'll probably just make people want to give it a go - which will mean making their own footbag and experimenting with different fuels. The old "ban it and it'll just go underground" chestnut.



While I'm ranting, with a very minor amount of re-wording of the stated reasons you could use it as an argument for banning all cars wink



Hope those links work...

EDITED_BY: Wirewood (1213715301)

"What drives life is...a little electric current kept up by the sunshine." Albert Szent-Gyorgi


PyrolificBRONZE Member
Returning to a unique state of Equilibrium
3,289 posts
Location: Adelaide, South Australia


Posted:
Yeah big hugs Aaron! hug

These things arent that dangerous!! - unless your a very silly person.

--
Help! My personality got stuck in this signature machine and I cant get it out!


albotrossSILVER Member
member
52 posts
Location: nsw, gunnedah, Australia


Posted:
the HOP news letter said that the NZ government is not planning to copy the ban, so i have a contingency plan. if the australian federal/state governments take the next step, and ban fire juggling, i'm moving to NZ. NZ cant really ban poi now can they? wink

The nite is nearly over, day is almost here. Romans 13:12


ali47newbie
7 posts
Location: NSW, Australia


Posted:
Yeah I read that too Blueberry. I haven't ever seen them in any of our major stores... It doesn't exactly make sense for them to be sold in Kmart or anything (and I can't imagine that those big shops would even bother trying?), but why should places specialising in fire equipment etc. be stopped from selling them...?
hmm...grr...

ElectricBlueGOLD Member
Now with extra strawberries
810 posts
Location: Canberra, Australia


Posted:
 Written by :Wirewood


Just to add some info re the extent of the ban:
WA
and
ACT

The ACT ban seems to contradict this post:

 Written by :Coln_OldnCranky


Commonwealth generally has no jurisdiction over retailing in the states so said ban will apply only tothe territories - Christmas Island, ACT, NT, Antartica Base, airports, telephone booths, Post Offices and so forth.



Unless the ban in ACT also covers use as well as sales.

Must agree though, fire footbag in a telephone booth doesn't sound like such a good idea wink




yup ACT is not a state it is a territorie so we get affected by commonwelth law differently

I {Heart} hand me downs and spinning in the snow.<br /><br />


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