Santo Santoro (Queensland, Liberal Party, Minister for Ageing) Share this | Hansard source

I am sure that all senators would share my feelings, and that is that I am very sad to hear of the deaths of the two teenage boys from the community of Oenpelli in the Northern Territory which the media has, in fact, indicated is the result of petrol fumes. Senators would be aware that petrol sniffing is a very complex issue and that supplying unleaded Opal fuel into a community can assist in addressing this problem. However, I am sure all senators would also agree that the community has an essential role to play in addressing petrol sniffing.

Oenpelli, senators may be interested to know, is approved for the Australian government’s petrol sniffing prevention program and has received regular deliveries of unleaded Opal fuel in drums since May 2006. As further information for honourable senators, they may be interested to know that Oenpelli—for those who are not familiar with Oenpelli—is 3,000 kilometres south-east of Darwin and has a population of 1,500 people, with approximately 20 regular sniffers. The community has been approved for the petrol sniffing prevention program and had its first supply of unleaded fuel delivered in May 2006. It has one service station that only supplies diesel fuel through its bowsers. The local fuel supplier has confirmed that regular deliveries of unleaded Opal fuel have been provided in 200-litre drums to Oenpelli since May 2006. According to media sources, the Oenpelli Council banned the use of regular unleaded fuel in the community last week. The nearest source of regular unleaded fuel is at Jabiru, 70 kilometres away.

I think this indicates that the government has been acting as expeditiously as possible. It has the assistance of the local community. Obviously, the government will continue to keep a very close eye on the situation, particularly in view of the very regrettable deaths of the two teenage boys who are the subject of the question.