Petrol-sniffing inquest to hear evidence in remote community

A coronial inquest into three petrol sniffing-related deaths in Central Australia is about to hear evidence in the remote community of Mutitjulu.

The coroner is looking at three deaths, two of which were in Mutitjulu close to Uluru in Central Australia last year.

Reenie Putija, a senior woman in Mutitjulu, told the inquest of the damage petrol sniffing does to the community.

"Petrol sniffing is a problem that distresses the whole community," she said speaking through a translator.

Ms Putija says her two younger brothers died from petrol sniffing.

She says people in Mutitjulu have been trying to solve the problem of petrol sniffing for years, with little success.

Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org
Pubdate: Wed, 10 August 2005
Source: Australian Broadcasting Corporation (Australia Web)
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Copyright: 2005 Australian Broadcasting Corporation
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