Hope for inquest to help combat petrol sniffing

A central Australian youth worker is hoping a coronial inquest into the deaths of three men will ensure more resources are dedicated to fighting the scourge of petrol sniffing in Aboriginal communities.

The Central Australian Youth Link Up Service wrote to the Northern Territory coroner saying it believed there had been 19 sniffing-related deaths since the last coronial inquest six years ago and another inquest was needed.

Coordinator Blair MacFarland says he has received a reply from the coroner, who will not investigate all of them, but will conduct a comprehensive inquest into the deaths of three central Australian men.

"We'll still be able to sort of give evidence to the coronial about the other deaths, so it's probably an adequate way of dealing with it," he said.

The inquest has been set down for mid-next year in Alice Springs and is also likely to examine what action has been taken since the last inquest.

Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org
Pubdate: 2nd December 2004
Source: Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Website: http://www.abc.net.au
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Copyright: 2004 Australian Broadcasting Corporation