Editors --- "Anti Petrol-Sniffing Campaign Extended - Digest" [2007] AUIndigLawRw 27; (2007) 11(1) Australian Indigenous Law Review 136

• Anti Petrol-Sniffing Campaign Extended

Anti Petrol-Sniffing Campaign Extended

Announcement of policy made 20 February 2002

Policy jointly announced by the Federal Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Mal Brough and the Federal Minister for Heath, Tony Abbott

On 20 February 2007 the Minister for Health and Ageing, Tony Abbott, and the Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Mal Brough, announced that the Australian Government’s policy to assist Indigenous communities with petrol-sniffing and other substance abuse problems would be expanded north of Alice Springs above Ti Tree as well as into Indigenous communities in the East Kimberley region of Western Australia. The new areas will now have access to substantial funding under the $55.2 million anti-petrol sniffing measure in last year’s Federal Budget.

The announcement marks an expansion of the existing policy to support the rollout of non-sniffable Opal fuel in Alice Springs, for which the Government has provided $12 million. The full rollout will be achieved in cooperation with all service stations, the Alice Springs Town Council and other local community leaders.

A recent Nganampa Health Council survey shows that the prevalence of petrol sniffing across Anangu Pitjantjatjarra Yunkatjatjarra lands has fallen by more than 80 percent since 2004.

The media release detailing the full statement of policy appears on the website of the Hon Mal Brough MP: <http://www.atsia.gov.au/media/media07/200207.aspx> .