Consultations on the expanded supply of Opal Fuel to the Kimberley

Monday, 5 December 2011

The Minister for Indigenous Health, Warren Snowdon, has praised communities in the East Kimberley region of Western Australia for participating in consultations on the expanded rollout of low aromatic Opal fuel.

Mr Snowdon said the rollout of low aromatic Opal fuel is having a direct impact on stamping out the scourge of petrol sniffing in our regional and remote Aboriginal communities.

Increasing the availability of Opal supply in the Kimberley could lead to improved health outcomes in the region.”

Already five communities in the Kimberley are distributing Opal fuel, and consultations have been held in Kununurra, Warmun, Halls Creek and Wyndham over the past week.

“Representatives of the Department of Health and Ageing have been meeting with local shire councils, retailers, health and community sector workers about increasing the availability of the low aromatic fuel,” Mr Snowdon said.

The widespread supply of Opal fuel to the Kimberley has been limited because of storage and distribution issues in the local region.

Plans are underway to construct a new bulk storage facility in Darwin in 2012, which will improve supply to the East Kimberley.

Western Australia Senator Lousie Pratt said a communication strategy is also being developed to ensure tourists and residents of the Kimberley are kept informed about the use of Opal fuel, its effectiveness and reliability and its role in reducing petrol sniffing.

“Opal fuel has proven to be very successful in reducing petrol sniffing and the serious social and economic consequences, in total, there are currently 118 sites receiving Opal fuel, but further work is required to expand the rollout of low aromatic fuel to prevent petrol sniffing,” Senator Pratt said.

Research has found a reduction in petrol sniffing of up to 94 per cent, and an associated reduction in crime, after Opal fuel is introduced.

The new and improved formula for Opal fuel has been independently tested and confirmed to be as good as or better than regular unleaded petrol for cars, boats and small engines.

The new Opal fuel breaks down the sooty deposits that regular unleaded petrol can leave behind, resulting in a cleaner engine that provides better performance.

For more information on how Opal fuel is safer for the community visit www.health.gov.au/stoppetrolsniffing, or for Opal fuel technical information call the BP Fuel and Lubricants Technical Helpline on 1300 139 700.

Media contact: (Minister Snowdon) Marcus Butler  02 6277 7820 or 0417 917 796
(Senator Pratt) Alanna Clohesy 08 9225 4411

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