SA: SA government sets up petrol sniffing task force

AAP General News (Australia)
12-06-2001
SA: SA government sets up petrol sniffing task force

ADELAIDE, Dec 6 AAP - Petrol sniffing in Aboriginal communities will be examined by
a newly created South Australian government task force.

The task force would work with West Australian and Northern Territory police and health
services to seek a cross-border solution to the problem, SA Aboriginal Affairs Minister
Dorothy Kotz said today.

She said the task force aimed to develop and implement strategies in conjunction with
Aboriginal communities.

"This cooperation is vital as it has been proven time and time again, once people lose
interest or give up, no program has a chance of succeeding," she said in a statement.

The task force of representatives from the departments of Aboriginal affairs, human
services, education and training, attorney-general, justice and ATSIC would audit data
on the issue and review existing programs.

"Over the past few years, well over $1.5 million in state and federal funds have gone
into addressing the issue of petrol sniffing - this has been boosted by a further $1 million
this year," Mrs Kotz said.

"Some of the projects and programs have been successful, but it is time for a whole-of-government
action plan to deal with this issue in the Aboriginal lands.

"That is the aim of the task force - to develop and implement new strategies in partnership
with the Aboriginal people themselves to help wipe the scourge of petrol sniffing from
the Aboriginal lands."

AAP sl/las

KEYWORD: SNIFFING

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