DARWIN—Call it an act of defiance, unrepentant stupidity or simply a good time.
Whatever your view of firecracker night, thousands of Territorians will unleash a fury of colour and flashing light in tomorrow night's sky.
Some of the revellers will unwittingly start grass fires while others will return home to backyards missing their terrified pets.
The truly unlucky will be rushed to hospital.
And then there is the rubbish: mounds and mounds of it.
But for all it's negatives, firecracker night - when laid-back locals from the nation's north celebrate the anniversary of self government - is here to stay.
"We all love fireworks," said NT Chief Minister Paul Henderson.
"And we're going to keep them because celebrating self-Government is part of our unique lifestyle."
But injuries on cracker night have increased over the past two years, with the family of a man blinded in one eye calling for an outright ban in 2007.
Chief physician Dr Steven Skov, from the Department of Health and Community Services (DHCS), says males aged between 10 and 29 are the main culprits and victims, with many suffering permanent scarring and debilitating injuries.
Thirty-five cases presented to emergency departments in 2006 with seven hospital admissions. Twenty-three people required outpatient burns care.
Last year there were 31 injuries. Ten were admitted to hospital and 16 people had to receive follow up treatment. Many smaller burns presented to GPs.
Despite this, Territorians have watched in disbelief while common sense has prevailed elsewhere.
After receiving 195 complaints over the Queen's birthday holiday weekend, the ACT is now set to outlaw bangers, making the NT the last place in Australia where such fireworks are legal.
The NT Government has introduced restrictions in a half-hearted attempt to temper the madness.
Under the legislation, adult Territorians can only buy crackers on July 1 and any leftovers have to be binned.
"I don't think it will be any different this year, even though there is new legislation," said NT Fire Service assistant director Alan Stephens.
He said firefighters were called to 125 jobs across the NT last Territory Day, compared with just two or three call-outs on a typical night.
"I would just hope that the Territory public recognise that fireworks are dangerous things," he said.
Robert Macleod, the mayor of the satellite city of Palmerston, agrees.
"It is a sad reality that many dogs go missing, are injured or even worse when they escape their yards in absolute fear when fireworks are let off indiscriminately," he said.
But locals are standing firm and crackers will be paired with flyers detailing safety procedures.
Others considered too dangerous, such as the Fish Catcher, Air Trooper, Coloured Pearls or Double Parachute, have been banned from celebrations.
The cone-shaped firework of the gun-toting terrorist simulates a screaming sound before his head explodes.
It's tacky, gaudy and dangerous but come tomorrow night, there's nowhere else in the world a Territorian would rather be.
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