Claire Moore (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to Senator Santoro, the Minister representing the Minister for Health and Ageing. Is the minister aware of reports that six petrol stations in Alice Springs that had agreed to stock non-sniffable Opal fuel have now stopped using it because of community fears that it could damage car engines? Further, is the minister aware of the concerns that these misplaced fears have arisen because of the lack of information about this important fuel? Didn’t the use of Opal fuel in Alice Springs reduce the number of known petrol sniffers from 100 to fewer than six? Is the minister aware of fears that, with unleaded fuel back into pumps and with the onset of the wet season, the number of petrol sniffers and the pain to the community will again start to increase? What action is the government taking to respond to the decision by petrol stations in Alice Springs to stop stocking Opal?

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

I am not aware of the specific answers to the questions that are being asked by Senator McLucas. However, I do undertake to seek specific—

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

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

Senator Moore, I am sorry. I do undertake to seek specific information and get back to Senator McLucas.

Claire Moore (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I hope, Minister, you will get back to at least one of us; that would be useful. Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. Didn’t the government promise a $2 million information campaign about fuel in this place last year? Isn’t providing strong information the best way to allay the fears of motorists about the impact of Opal fuel on car engines? Will the government take immediate action to ensure that petrol stations at Alice Springs go back to stocking the fuel to help eliminate the scourge of petrol sniffing?

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

I will certainly undertake to find out specifically what the federal government is doing in relation to petrol stations in Alice Springs. I undertake to get back to Senator Moore as soon as possible.