2016-01-06
The Government has announced plans to mandate low-aromatic fuel in another community, Tennant Creek, to combat the scourge of petrol sniffing in the community.
This is the second time the Government has exercised Senator Rachel Siewert’s private members bill on non-sniffable fuels.
“It is good to hear that the sale of regular unleaded fuel will be banned in the Barkley region of the NT, a community struggling with petrol sniffing.
“When my private members Bill was passed in 2013 it gave the Minister power to mandate low-aromatic fuel and make it an offence to supply regular fuel in particular places.
“This legislative tool was used for the first time on Palm Island at the end of 2015. It is good the Minister is taking action and rolling out the measure in another community suffering from petrol sniffing. It is however distressing that the situation has come to this.
“This Act is about helping communities affected by petrol sniffing by complementing the existing strategies and programs. Consultation and flexibility are at the heart of these measures and were a very big part of the legislation’s development, I look forward to seeing further progress in addressing petrol sniffing in 2016”.