NT needs more cash to roll out 'non-sniffable' fuel

The Martin Government says more Commonwealth subsidies are needed to roll out "non-sniffable petrol" across the Northern Territory.

Local councils have unanimously voted to support a blanket ban on unleaded petrol and the introduction of alternative "opal" fuel to crack down on petrol sniffing in Aboriginal communities.

The Federal Government has already committed $1 million for the use of the fuel, which does not contain aromatic hydrocarbons, in 37 remote communities.

But the Family and Community Services Minister, Marion Scrymgour, says it should also replace unleaded petrol in regional centres such as Alice Springs and Darwin.

"If we don't have access to the fuel in our urban regional centres, it defeats the purpose of having it in remote communities. Because the reality is people travel in and out [of] their communities into town."

She says the black market would flourish if the fuel were available in some towns and not others.

"There's no point in putting it in some Aboriginal communities or selective Aboriginal communities," she said.

"We also need to look at some regional centres such as Alice Springs and Tennant Creek and even in the Top End because we do have a problem with petrol sniffing in the Top End."

Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org
Pubdate: Fri, 15 Apr 2005
Source: Australian Broadcasting Corporation (Australia Web)
Copyright: 2005 Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Contact: comments@your.abc.net.au
Website: http://www.abc.net.au/