Industrial Relations Minister John Hargreaves said the prohibition was a response to an unacceptable level of misuse.

He said owning fireworks was illegal already. ''What that instrument, I signed last Friday, merely did was take out the three days of the [Queen's Birthday] long weekend as exemptions. You couldn't have them in your house last Wednesday your leftovers were illegal''.

A six-day amnesty over the next three weekends would give Canberrans the opportunity to dispose of any fireworks and professional fireworks displays would continue in the capital.

''The reasons for such a ban are about property damage, injury to domestic animals and wildlife and of course the general disruption,'' Mr Hargreaves said.

Despite the move having the backing of the Greens, Opposition industrial relations minister Vicki Dunne said the Liberals would not support a total ban.

The Opposition would move a disallowance motion in the Assembly as well as a motion to put together a discussion paper to allow the community to address how to make cracker night better and safer for the community.

For more, pick up a copy of today's Canberra Times