[Greens-Media] GST fuel windfall should be used to combat petrol sniffing

[Oquist, Ben (Sen B. Brown)]

Saturday, 13 August 2005 

GST fuel windfall should be used to 
combat petrol sniffing

Abbott must withdraw outrageous 
comments - Brown

Greens Senator Bob Brown says that just 1% of the fuel tax windfall
going to the Federal Government would be enough to put non sniffable
'Opal' fuel into the entire Central Australian desert region.

"$8-10 million per annum is all that is required to put non sniffable
Opal petrol through central Australia," Senator Brown said.

"The Government's claim that it is 'just not realistic' to have a full
roll out of Opal fuel in central Australia is specious when Treasury is
set to receive this $1B fuel tax windfall because of higher petrol
prices.

"Petrol sniffing is a national scandal and the government's reticence to
act is not acceptable.  This is about hundreds of aboriginal children
and young people.  If it were happening in Sydney or Melbourne there
would be melt down.

"I will introduce legislation into the Senate next week to show the
Government what can be done.

"Tony Abbott's criticism of 'people hell bent on self destruction' is
outrageous and should be retracted immediately," Senator Brown said.


Further information: Ben Oquist 0419 704 095