FAQs

• What is petrol sniffing?
• What is the Australian Government doing to prevent petrol sniffing?
• What is the Petrol Sniffing Strategy (Eight Point Plan)?
• What is the Petrol Sniffing Prevention Program?
• What Australian Government funding is available for petrol sniffing prevention?
• Will sniffing low aromatic fuel give a 'high'?
• Why is low aromatic fuel being introduced?
• How long has low aromatic fuel been available?
• Do I have to use low aromatic fuel?
• Does low aromatic fuel cost more than regular unleaded fuel?
• Will premium unleaded fuel still be available in areas where low aromatic fuel replaces regular unleaded fuel?
• How does low aromatic fuel benefit regional and remote Indigenous communities?
• Why have some areas replaced regular unleaded petrol with a low aromatic fuel while others haven't?
• Why isn't regular unleaded fuel being replaced all throughout Australia?
• Why do we need a regional approach?
• Has low aromatic fuel made a difference?
• How does low aromatic fuel work in my car or boat?
• How can I report a crime associated with substance abuse?

What is petrol sniffing?

Petrol sniffing is a form of substance misuse. The fumes of the petrol are deliberately inhaled to get a 'hit' or a 'high'. It is dangerous and can cause permanent brain damage or death.

Petrol sniffing is widespread in some regional and remote communities. It has caused devastation in terms of health, violence, crime and the breakdown of community and family structures.

Petrol sniffing has cost a lot to communities and government due to these health and social impacts. Back to top

What is the Australian Government doing to prevent petrol sniffing?

The Australian Government has committed to addressing petrol sniffing through the Petrol Sniffing Strategy (Eight Point Plan).

What is the Petrol Sniffing Strategy (Eight Point Plan)?

The Petrol Sniffing Strategy is the Australian Government's commitment to addressing petrol sniffing. The eight points are:

• consistent legislation
• appropriate levels of policing
• the rollout of low aromatic fuel
• alternative activities for young people
• treatment and respite facilities
• communication and education strategies
• strengthening and supporting communities
• evaluation

The Petrol Sniffing Strategy (Eight Point Plan) was launched in 2005 to address the problem of petrol sniffing in regional and remote areas of Australia. It is managed through the:

• Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs
• Attorney-General's Department
• Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations
• Department of Health and Ageing Back to top

What is the Petrol Sniffing Prevention Program?

The Petrol Sniffing Prevention Program outlines of the Department of Health and Ageing's responsibilities under the Petrol Sniffing Strategy (Eight Point Plan).

It includes subsiding low aromatic fuel, providing advice around treatment and rehabilitation for petrol sniffers, informing the public about low aromatic fuel and petrol sniffing prevention through communication and education strategies, collecting data and program evaluation.

The program is managed through the Mental Health and Drug Treatment Division.

What Australian Government funding is available for petrol sniffing prevention?

The 2010-11 budget measure has increased the five year funding commitment to $115.86m to expand the rollout of low aromatic fuel and reduce petrol sniffing in Indigenous communities.

A small percentage of the funding assists with implementing a communication strategy to support the rollout of low aromatic fuel to both new and existing sites receiving low aromatic fuel and the establishment of a surveillance system to collect data on the impact of low aromatic fuel and the broader Petrol Sniffing Strategy. Back to top

Will sniffing low aromatic fuel give a 'high'?

No it will not. Low aromatic fuel is a volatile substance and sniffing any kind of petrol damages your health and can cause death.

Why is low aromatic fuel being introduced?

The introduction of low aromatic fuel in specific regions across Australia aims to address the issue of petrol sniffing.

How long has low aromatic fuel been available?

Low aromatic fuel has been available in some parts of the Northern Territory, South Australia, Western Australia and Queensland since 2005. Back to top

Do I have to use low aromatic fuel?

Only if you are visiting regions that have low aromatic fuel. Low aromatic fuel is available at selected service stations and roadhouses in specific regions throughout Australia. You are encouraged to have low aromatic fuel in your tank when you enter regions where regular unleaded petrol is not available to purchase.

Does low aromatic fuel cost more than regular unleaded fuel?

No it doesn't. The Australian Government helps with the production and distribution costs of low aromatic fuel so it can be available at the same price as regular unleaded petrol.

A production subsidy is paid directly to the producer of low aromatic unleaded fuel in recognition that it is more highly refined and produced in smaller quantities than regular unleaded petrol, generating extra production costs. A distribution subsidy is also paid directly to nominated fuel distributors because the costs of distributing low aromatic fuel can be higher than with regular unleaded petrol due to the interruption of existing fuel supply chains.

These two subsidies ensure that the cost of low aromatic fuel is the same as regular unleaded petrol. Back to top

Will premium unleaded fuel still be available in areas where low aromatic fuel replaces regular unleaded fuel?

Yes, premium unleaded fuel is still available but you might see some changes in the way it is sold including:

• Premium unleaded petrol bowsers may be locked when they are not in use
• Sales of premium unleaded petrol may be monitored by retailers
• Retailers may not sell premium unleaded petrol in small containers

All suspect fuel purchases will be reported to the local police and the Substance Abuse Intelligence Desk (SAID). Back to top

How does low aromatic fuel benefit regional and remote Indigenous communities?

The aim of rolling out low aromatic fuel is to decrease the incidence of petrol sniffing and build healthier communities free of violence and other social issues.

Low aromatic fuel is replacing regular unleaded fuel in certain regions in Australia. Removing regular unleaded fuel in and around surrounding regions where petrol sniffing is common has seen a significant reduction in the number of people sniffing petrol.

In 2008, a study on petrol sniffing found that sniffing had decreased in 17 of the 20 communities surveyed resulting in an overall 70 per cent reduction in sniffing numbers across the 20 communities. The communities surveyed reported that low aromatic fuel had a significant role in reducing sniffing numbers in their community. The decrease of petrol sniffing has been higher in areas where a regional approach was adopted. Back to top

Why have some areas replaced regular unleaded petrol with a low aromatic fuel while others haven't?

Many communities with low aromatic fuel have approached the government and volunteered to join the Petrol Sniffing Prevention Program. The government also approaches communities that have a high percentage of the population sniffing petrol and work alongside the community to get their support for introducing low aromatic fuel into that community and to join the program.

Why isn't regular unleaded fuel being replaced all throughout Australia?

Due to the high costs associated with producing and distributing low aromatic fuel, it is not feasible to replace regular unleaded fuel with low aromatic fuel throughout Australia.

Why do we need a regional approach?

For the rollout of low aromatic fuel to work, it is important for all fuel retailers within a region to supply the product. Without the support of all fuel retailers across a region, competition imbalances can be created in the local fuel retail market.

The aim of this initiative is to stop the flow of regular unleaded fuel entering into regions where low aromatic fuel is available. It is unlikely this will be achieved when regular unleaded petrol can still be sourced from nearby fuel outlets.

The rollout of low aromatic fuel in Central Australia and the APY lands was conducted as a regional approach. Both regions have the largest decrease in petrol sniffing with a 94 per cent decrease in Central Australia and a 93 per cent decrease in the APY lands. Back to top

Has low aromatic fuel made a difference?

Yes. Since the introduction of low aromatic fuel there has been positive change in many Indigenous communities. There has been a reduction in social problems associated with petrol sniffing such as burglary and an increase in participation in youth activities.
Read the case studies for further information.

How does low aromatic fuel work in my car or boat?

To find out how BP's Opal fuel works in your car or boat visit the Opal fuel website.
Shell Australia will commence producing low aromatic fuel in late 2013.

How can I report a crime associated with substance abuse?

There are two numbers to call depending on your location.

• Anywhere within Australia: call the National Crime Stoppers Hotline on 1800 333 000 or
• Near the cross border region of Central Australia and the Top End of the Northern Territory: call the Substance Abuse Intelligence Desk (SAID) on (08) 8951 8888. Back to top

Page currency, Latest update: 05 December, 2012