Low aromatic fuel helping address NT’s petrol sniffing ‘epidemic’

A Queensland University study into petrol sniffing in remote communities has found a 95.2 per cent reduction since 2007.

Federal Indigenous Affairs Minister Ken Wyatt said the downward trend aligned with the government’s continued roll out of low aromatic unleaded fuel. Picture Kym Smith

A UNIVERSITY of Queensland study into petrol sniffing in selected remote indigenous communities has found a 95.2 per cent reduction since 2007.

Federal Indigenous Affairs Minister Ken Wyatt said the reduction aligned with the government’s continued roll out of low aromatic unleaded fuel.

“The results of the University of Queensland’s study in petrol sniffing and other substance abuse trends in indigenous communities are encouraging,” he said.

AMAZING OFFER: Subscribe to the NT News online for just $1 a week (min $4)

“This study shows that the strategy is working and reducing incidents of this highly destructive behaviour.”

The Central Australian Youth Link Up Service’s Tristan Ray said the change had made a significant difference to the community’s petrol sniffing “epidemic”.

IN OTHER NEWS

“In 2006 when low aromatic fuel was first rolled out in Central Australia, there were around 500 people sniffing in our region with an average of seven deaths per year,” he said.

“These days there wouldn’t even be 20 people sniffing in the same region. The introduction of low aromatic fuel was a community-driven solution supported by governments, retailers and the fuel industry that has worked well and stood the test of time.”