Summary Since the mid 1970s, petrol sniffing has been a serious problem at Yalata. In early 2006, the State Government reported that it was working with the Australian Government on plans to sell Opal fuel at Yalata. Four years later, Opal fuel is still not available in Yalata or any nearby towns and centres. The Paper TrailIntroduction In early 2005, BP Australia launched a new fuel called Opal.[i] One of the advantages of this new fuel is that it "does not contain lead and has very low levels of the aromatic hydrocarbons which give the ‘high' sought by petrol sniffers."[ii] A fact sheet on Opal fuel is available here (file size 235KB) In February 2005, with funding from the Australian Government, Opal fuel began to replace sniffable fuels in some remote Aboriginal communities.[iii] Since 2005, Opal fuel has replaced sniffable fuel in all of the main communities on the APY Lands.[iv] As of September 2007, it could also be purchased at Marla, Mintabie and from 12 outlets in Alice Springs.[v] The introduction of Opal fuel has seen a significant reduction in the number of petrol sniffers on the APY Lands. In 2004, there were approximately 200 petrol sniffers on the APY Lands.[vi] By the end of 2007, the number of petrol sniffers on the APY Lands had fallen to less than 40 (or about 1.5% of the Anangu population).[vii] On 26 February 2008, the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation commented: We attribute the dramatic decrease in sniffing [on the APY Lands] to the introduction of Opal Fuel, harsher penalties for trafficking in petrol, extra police and youth workers, a mobile outreach service and more activities for young people.[viii] Yalata community Petrol sniffing has been a serious problem for Yalata community for over 30 years.[ix] In 2004, there were about 20 petrol sniffers at Yalata. This equated to approximately 8% of the total Anangu population in that community.[x] In February 2006, the State Government reported that it was "working with the local community and the Australian Government with a view to having Opal available in Yalata."[xi] Departmental updates On 26 April 2008, the Federal Department of Health and Ageing advised the Paper Tracker that while Yalata had already been "approved to participate in the Petrol Sniffing Prevention Program which subsidises the supply of Opal fuel ... inadequate infrastructure has delayed the rollout" in that community.[xii] At the same time, the Department noted that it had "taken steps to meet with the South Australian Government, the Yalata community and the petrol industry to seek suitable arrangements for the supply of Opal fuel to this region." It expressed confidence that Opal fuel would "be available in both the community and surrounding petrol outlets in the near future."[xiii] On 6 May 2008, the South Australian Department of the Premier and Cabinet informed the Paper Tracker that it had "secured financial assistance across state government agencies" as contributions towards the overall cost of supplying "Opal fuel infrastructure" in Yalata. In addition, the Department noted that the Australian Government had "given in principle support to finance" the remaining infrastructure costs.[xiv] The Department further advised that: - meetings with the suppliers of suitable Opal fuel infrastructure were "nearly complete",
- State and Federal agencies were "planning for the broader roll out of Opal Fuel throughout parts of the Eyre Highway", and
- the "collaborative work" of all of the agencies and persons involved would "intensify in the coming months and is likely to result in accessibility to Opal Fuel sooner than anticipated."[xv]
In June 2008, a Yalata community newsletter reported that State and Federal Departments had allocated a total of $170,000 towards the cost of making Opal available at Yalata. The article continued: Petrol sniffing in Yalata restarted in September 2007 and usage spiked over summer ... Various government departments are working with [Yalata Community Inc.] for regulatory approval before a site is chosen and installation of bowsers begins. The project will also include a diesel bowser.[xvi] On 8 July 2008, the Federal Department of Health and Ageing advised the Paper Tracker that it expected Opal fuel to be available in Yalata "before the end of 2008" and that the necessary funding arrangements were "currently being finalised."[xvii] Concerning plans to make Opal fuel available in surrounding areas, the Department subsequently advised: at this stage there is no plan to rollout Opal fuel across the Nullarbor Region in the same way that it has been rolled out across the Central Desert Region of Central Australia. Any further rollout in the Nullarbor Region will be dependant on an assessment of the impact on providing Opal fuel in Yalata. However ... we are considering how Opal fuel could be rolled out more broadly in the Nullarbor Region if such a rollout is considered necessary.[xviii] The Paper Tracker notes that this advice contradicts an earlier statement by the Secretary of the Department in which she expressed confidence that Opal fuel would "be available in both the community and surrounding petrol outlets in the near future." (emphasis added)[xix] The Paper Tracker has observed the considerable reduction in the level of petrol sniffing in some remote Aboriginal communities following the introduction of Opal fuel in both the communities and surrounding centres. We are concerned that less concerted efforts to introduce Opal fuel on the west coast of South Australia will significantly reduce its capacity to address Yalata's long-standing petrol sniffing problem.[xx] Submissions to Parliamentary Inquiry On 19 August 2008, the Paper Tracker made a formal submission to the Senate Inquiry into petrol sniffing and substance abuse in Central Australia. Our submission emphasised the need for Opal fuel to be available in Yalata and surrounding centres.[xxi] On 22 August 2008, the Federal Government provided a submission to the same Inquiry. In relation to Yalata, the Federal Government indicated that because of a "lack of suitable infrastructure" in the community, a "portable fuel tank system including petrol pumps" would be purchased and used to supply Opal and diesel fuels. The submission explained: The portable facility will enable community members to purchase Opal and Diesel fuels from two 30,000 litre fuel tanks set inside specially constructed shipping containers. An outdoor payment terminal will provide the opportunity for 24 hour access and a cashless system of fuel supply with significant labour cost reductions. [xxii] The Federal Government's submission also reported that "a new generation of sniffers" had emerged in the region.[xxiii] The submission continued: Recent reports suggest there are 4 chronic sniffers and a number of recreational users in a 14-18 year age group, mixed gender. Roll-out of Opal fuel in this area is just commencing. The submission noted the impact of petrol sniffing on crime as well as its detrimental effects on health: There have been 24 recent arrests for sniffing in the community, 6 breaches of bail related to sniffing, and 4 associated offences (such as breaking into vehicles). Bullying to coerce other young people to sniff is prevalent. Petrol sniffing in this community is episodic, with flare-ups occurring during the warmer months and during school holidays, when people are visiting communities. There were 4 suicide attempts at one community in the region in December 2007/January 2008 following a high usage of a combination of substances.[xxiv] The Paper Tracker believes the Government's submission underscores the importance of ensuring that Opal fuel is available in Yalata and also rolled-out across the Nullarbor region and surrounding centres, including Ceduna. Revised timeframes On 20 October 2008, the Federal Department of Health and Ageing advised the Paper Tracker that the Indigenous Coordination Centre in Ceduna and SA Government were "working with Yalata Community to develop a business plan" to ensure the local community "has the capacity for the ongoing upkeep of the fuel system and the revenue it generates.[xxv] The Department noted that while all those involved in the process were "aiming" to have Opal available at Yalata by 31 December 2008, it was unable to confirm that this timeline would be met. The advice continued: The timeframe is dependent on the completion of the business plan and the [fuel] unit's installation in accordance with relevant safety standards.[xxvi] On 16 January 2009, the Department provided the Paper Tracker with a revised timeframe for this work, indicating that it now expected Opal fuel to be available in Yalata by 1 June 2009.[xxvii] In the same correspondence, the Department reported that: - funding had been secured to cover the cost of the business plan,
- a consultant with the relevant skills had been engaged to undertake this work, and
- the business plan was expected to "be finalised in the next few weeks" after which time the Yalata community would "engage a contractor to complete the installation" of the necessary infrastructure (i.e. fuel unit and bowsers).
On 29 September 2009, the Department of Health and Ageing advised the Paper Tracker that: The timeframe of the Yalata Opal fuel project has been extended to 30 June 2010 to allow the community time to prepare to supply fuel from the stand alone fuel facility.[xxviii] The Department's advice continued: A business plan has been completed and Yalata Community with support from the South Australian Government, the Ceduna Indigenous Coordination Centre, their accountants and the Department of Health and Ageing, is now working through implementing a project plan to gain the appropriate licences and approvals, and install the facility. While the Department would be pleased if the supply of Opal fuel was to commence earlier than the current end date of the project, Opal fuel's supply is dependant on the community having all the appropriate plans in place for the implementation and ongoing management of the facility.[xxix] The old roadhouse and other fuel outlets On 9 September 2009, the Federal Minister for Indigenous Health (Hon Warren Snowdon MP) reported that "inadequate infrastructure and other community related factors [had] delayed the rollout of Opal fuel" into Yalata.[xxx] The Minister's letter continued: The Yalata Roadhouse ... has been closed for sometime so the community does not currently have working fuel pumps. I understand community members currently access their fuel supply from the Nundroo Roadhouse.[xxxi] The Paper Tracker notes that: - the Yalata Roadhouse has been closed for more than four years,
- Yalata community does not have access to any regular, public transport,
- the Nundroo Roadhouse is around 50 kilometres from Yalata, and
- the Nundroo Roadhouse does not sell Opal fuel.
Click here for more information on the old Yalata Roadhouse and ongoing safety concerns. On 18 December 2009, the Federal Department of Health and Ageing reported that: - Nundroo Roadhouse - the fuel outlet closest to Yalata - was unwilling to replace its regular unleaded petrol with Opal fuel until "a comprehensive Opal fuel rollout" occurs "across the Nullarbor region", and
- while a comprehensive roll-out "may be considered ... in the future ... the Government's immediate priority is establishing Opal fuel's supply" in Yalata itself.[xxxii]
Additional information (added 16 May 2010) On 14 May 2010, the Federal Department of Health and Ageing advised the Paper Tracker that: - "approximately six months ago" Yalata community had selected an alternative site for its Opal fuel outlet "after expressing safety concerns about the original proposed site,"
- on 12 May 2010, the South Australian Government had indicated that the new site was not suitable, and
- Yalata community would now need "to consider alternative sites for the fuel outlet."[xxxiii]
The Department's advice continued: It is uncertain if an alternative site that is suitable can be found and if it can when the development and planning permission from the South Australian Government will occur. The Australian Government will continue to work with the South Australian Government and the Yalata community to establish a fuel outlet for Opal fuel at Yalata. Meanwhile, because of the continuing delays with the Yalata project the Department is starting work on a possible regional rollout of Opal fuel to the Nullarbor Region by commencing negotiations with stakeholders.[xxxiv] The Paper Tracker will update this page as additional information becomes available.[xxxv] The Paper Tracker strives to provide accurate and up-to-date information. It believes the above account to be a true and fair representation of what has happened. We will remove any inaccurate information as soon as it is brought to our attention. Please contact us if you have additional information on this matter or can provide us with an update.
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Yalata Commitments 
