About 20 years ago, NSW restricted the number of helium balloons that can be legally released at any one event. The late Lance Ferris, founder of Australian Seabird Rescue, was instrumental in this reform, lobbying for it after discovering how many seabirds were affected by human waste in the Richmond River.

The NSW government considered "up to 20" to be a fair compromise between environmental protection and the community's wish to celebrate.

With the easy availability of helium, an unregulated balloon industry and population growth, the number, type and use of balloons has increased immensely since the "up to 20" law was introduced, from tiny water balloons to giant aerial mylar balloons.

For the last two decades, I have asked successive ministers for the environment to totally ban the release of balloons. Each letter or email is passed on to the NSW Environment Protection Authority, and each response has been the same, that up to 20 is a fair balance between environmental protection and the community's right to celebrate.