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Inquiry to address petrol sniffing in Australia

Inquiry to address petrol sniffing in Australia

Inquiry to address petrol sniffing in Australia

Posted 27 October 2008, 14:10 AEDT

A Senate inquiry will convene today at a Central Australian Aboriginal community that's one of the most successful in Australia at stamping out petrol sniffing.

The inquiry was ordered in June to follow up on the impact of the Opal rollout fuel in the region.

The fuel, which does not give sniffers a high, has replaced unleaded petrol in most Central Australian service stations, dramatically reducing the number of addicts.

The manager of the Mount Theo program at Yuendumu, Brett Badger, says he welcomes the Senate inquiry's visit.

"We believe Opal to be crucial in the fight against petrol sniffing but it's only the first step and what's really important is that Opal is then followed by the comprehensive funding of youth programs throughout the Northern Territory," he said.

The Senate committee will report early next year.