With petrol sniffing an increasing epidemic, particularly in remote communities, the President of the Local Government Association of the Northern Territory (LGANT), Alderman Kerry Moir is calling for urgent action in the roll out of Opal fuel to remote areas.
“I am very disappointed that the Federal Government voted against a motion by Senator Bob Brown for an inquiry into a regional roll out of Opal fuel in central Australia,” Alderman Moir said. “LGANT, which represents 63 Councils in the NT of which over 50 are on remote Aboriginal communities, called for a Territory wide approach in April 2005 and I wrote to Minister Abbott advising him of this.
“Minister Abbott in his response raised some concerns with the regional roll out of Opal fuel, mainly financial, but the Government has since announced a $9.5m package which is welcome news. However on the face of it, it appears to be a stop gap measure. What is needed is a more thorough analysis and this could be achieved by an inquiry.
“Experts in the area know that a regional approach is the most effective way for an Opal fuel roll out to succeed. The current piecemeal approach could drive sniffers into Alice Springs or to the remote communities that don’t have Opal fuel.
“LGANT will be holding its Annual Conference in Alice Springs this month and the issue of petrol sniffing and the roll out of Opal fuel is an important item on the agenda. We hope that the Minister will have a response for our members by then.”
