Senate huffs and puffs on call for Opal petrol inquiry

THE Federal Government yesterday voted down a bid to mount an inquiry into rolling out unsniffable Opal petrol throughout Central Australia.

The motion was put in the Senate by Greens leader Bob Brown, who wants the petrol made available from Coober Pedy to Tennant Creek.

Territory CLP Senator Nigel Scullion said the Government had "little choice" but to vote against the attempt to get a Senate committee to stage the inquiry.

"Senator Bob Brown thinks a further rollout of Opal fuel is the 'silver bullet' that's going to solve this incredibly complex social and health issue," Senator Scullion said.

"The Greens' motion dealt only with the further rollout of non-sniffable fuel and did nothing to address the wider issues behind the petrol sniffing scourge.

"Bob Brown and the Greens continue to over-simplify Central Australia's petrol-sniffing problems."

But Labor Lingiari MHR Warren Snowdon accused the Government of hypocrisy.

He said Health Minister Tony Abbott congratulated himself on Tuesday for increasing federal funding for Opal petrol.

But two days later the Governmment used its numbers to prevent an inquiry into providing the fuel right across Central Australia.

"It is important that we have a comprehensive strategy on petrol sniffing," Mr Snowdon said. "If unsniffable petrol is going to be part of that strategy, it's no good having gaping holes in its availability.

"We know sniffable petrol would still be accessible."

Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org/petrol.html
Pubdate: Fri, 16 September 2005
Source: Northern Territory News (Australia)
Author: Nigel Adlam
Copyright: 2005 Northern Territory News
Contact: ntnmail@ntn.newsltd.com.au
Website: http://ntnews.news.com.au/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/283