megavideolinks
Joined: 19 Nov 2011
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 Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2011 6:20 am Post subject: What was the nature of the public policy problem that inter |
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Petrol sniffing is a form of volatile substance misuse (VSM). In many Indigenous communities it is
the predominant volatile substance of abuse, whereas in urban areas the most common form of VSM is
chroming, or inhaling from aerosol paint cans. In responding to VSM, it is necessary to recognise its
distinctive features and at the same time not succumb to the sensationalism with which it is often
represented. It is also a particularly destructive (and self-destructive) expression of a much broader set
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http://www.pc.gov.au/gsp/reports/indigenous/keyindicators2007/overview.pdf Intersectoral action to reduce petrol sniffing in remote communities of Central Australia
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of problems, including socio-economic disadvantage, despair and anger. It is these social and
environmental factors that categorise petrol sniffing as more than just a health problem and make it
vital that solutions focus on improvements across the community rather than just limiting access to
substances like petrol in respect of individuals.
Petrol sniffing first emerged among Aboriginal communities after the establishment of military bases
in Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory during World War II.
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By 1983 the then Department of
Aboriginal Affairs reported that Australia-wide, an average of nine per cent of communities
(69 communities) had a problem with petrol sniffing.
In 1985 a Senate Select Committee on Volatile Substance Abuse identified three broad reasons for
concern about petrol sniffing in remote Aboriginal communities:
• the severe physical and psychological effects on those involved;
• the combined consequential social effects threaten, in some communities, to destroy an already
fragile social system; and
• the extent of the problem.
Between 1981 and 1991, sixty Aboriginal men and three women died from petrol sniffing.
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Since
1991, deaths have continued with the South Australian, Western Australian and Northern Territory
Coroners regularly reporting on deaths from volatile substance abuse. Given the issues with data, any
reported deaths from petrol sniffing are likely to be an underestimate.
The Commonwealth Government’s approach to substance misuse also had an impact on the evolution
of a policy framework to address petrol sniffing. In late 1996, the Government Department of Health
and Ageing undertook a review of the Substance Misuse Program (transferred from ATSIC on 1 July
1996) focussing on the design of the program and its context as well as its relationship to broader
mainstream health and substance misuse programs. The aim was to identify key strategies for an
integrated, co-ordinated national approach to comprehensively address this national problem.
Although considerable research has been undertaken and there is now a much better understanding as
to why people sniff petrol, governments have only recently begun to work together effectively to
reduce this behaviour. It is now widely recognised that socio-economic factors play a part in the
general aetiology of petrol sniffing, including poverty, hunger, illness, low education levels,
unemployment, boredom and general feelings of hopelessness. These form the environment in which
such self-destructive behaviour takes place
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and as a result need to be addressed cohesively and
concurrently through comprehensive intersectoral action.
Ultimately, the event that galvanised the public opinion and increased pressure for a public policy
commitment to intersectoral action to address petrol sniffing was the media attention associated with
the findings of the various Coronial Inquests, in particular the report by Coroner Chivell in South
Australia in August 2005. Pressure was also coming from community based organisations and
Aboriginal communities in central Australia. There was a high level of agreement that all parties
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Senate Select Committee on Volatile Substance Abuse, 1985:
http://www.aph.gov.au/senate/committee/clac_ctte/petrol_sniffing/report
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Senate Select Committee on Volatile Substance Abuse, 1985.
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Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, 2003. Intersectoral action to reduce petrol sniffing in remote communities of Central Australia
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needed to take a role in combating sniffing in remote areas. This has been seen by the general public
as one element that exemplifies the need for greater national commitment to closing the health gap
between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in Australia. In the lead up to the 2007 election the
17 year life expectancy gap was a focus for public policy discussion.
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