Transaction Search Form: please type in any of the fields below.
Date: April 29, 2024 Mon
Time: 8:08 pm
Time: 8:08 pm
Results for petrol sniffing
3 results foundAuthor: d'Abbs, Peter Title: Monitoring Trends in Prevalence of Petrol Sniffing in Selected Aboriginal Communities: An Interim Report Summary: This report presents interim findings from a study of petrol sniffing prevalence in a sample of Australian Aboriginal communities that commenced in 2011 and is scheduled for completion in 2014. The study was commissioned by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing in order to contribute to monitoring the impact of an ongoing rollout of low aromatic fuel (LAF) in communities beset by petrol sniffing, and is being conducted by Menzies School of Health Research, Darwin, in partnership with Bowchung Pty Ltd, Canberra. Preparation of the report is also a response to a recommendation by the Senate Community Affairs Committee which, in a report of an inquiry into the Low Aromatic Fuel Bill tabled in 2012, stated: The committee recommends that the Government release an interim report based on the first round of data collection being undertaken by the Menzies School of Health Research. (Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee, 2012, Recommendation 1). The report contains four sections: 1. background to attempts to date to monitor prevalence of petrol sniffing in Australian Aboriginal communities in general and, in particular, to monitor the impact of rolling out LAF; 2. methodological issues entailed in monitoring prevalence of petrol sniffing in communities; 3. the methodology adopted in the present study; and 4. interim findings of the study to date. Details: Darwin: Menzies School of Health Research, 2013. 34p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 12, 2014 at: http://www.menzies.edu.au/icms_docs/176151_Final_Menzies_interim_report_May_2013.pdf Year: 2013 Country: Australia URL: http://www.menzies.edu.au/icms_docs/176151_Final_Menzies_interim_report_May_2013.pdf Shelf Number: 131861 Keywords: AboriginalsDrug Abuse and AddictionPetrol Sniffing |
Author: Australia. Auditor General Title: Delivery of the petrol sniffing strategy in remote Indigenous communities Summary: Through the Petrol Sniffing Strategy (PSS), the Australian Government has supported initiatives to reduce the incidence and impact of petrol sniffing in remote Indigenous communities since 2005. The key element of the PSS is to subsidise the production of low aromatic fuel (LAF) so that it replaces regular unleaded petrol (RULP) in areas at risk of petrol sniffing outbreaks, without the higher production costs acting as a barrier to its uptake. While there are many underlying causes of petrol sniffing, generally associated with young people from disadvantaged backgrounds and marginalised groups, research results have indicated that the introduction of LAF has been successful in contributing to reductions in the incidence of petrol sniffing. For this reason, additional funding has been made available by the Australian Government to expand the supply and distribution of LAF. From an initial 41 sites in June 2005, the PSS expanded and, as at January 2015, LAF was available in 138 sites associated with 78 Indigenous communities in Western Australia, Queensland, South Australia and the Northern Territory. Consistent with the policy objective of the PSS, these sites are located in regional and remote areas of Australia. While the number of sites has increased, the overall annual volume of LAF produced has largely remained stable since 2007-08 with approximately 21 megalitres being produced on average each year. No performance targets have been set in relation to the volume of LAF produced and distributed, although contracts with LAF producers allow for an annual production of up to 53 megalitres. In the most recent expansion of the PSS in 2010-11, the Australian Government provided additional funding to include 39 sites covering 11 communities in Northern Australia, with an associated increase in annual volume of production of LAF. As well as supporting extra production capacity, a significant element of the increased funding was to provide for additional storage facilities as the lack of bulk storage had been identified as the key barrier to expanding the PSS in northern Australia. Following a select tender, the department responsible for providing LAF, the then Department of Health and Ageing (DoHA), entered into contracts with two major fuel producers to supply LAF to different regions of Australia. The development of additional storage infrastructure was initially included by DoHA in the tender for fuel production, however, the department subsequently chose to enter into direct negotiations with the operators of terminal facilities in Darwin. These negotiations were anticipated to have been completed in time to allow for facilities to be operational by 1 July 2012 which, in turn, would enable the contracts for increased production to commence. Negotiations were lengthy and remained ongoing at the time the responsibility for petrol sniffing initiatives was transferred to the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (PM&C) in September 2013. An agreement for capital works was subsequently executed in December 2013, which enabled work to commence on developing the required storage infrastructure. The storage facility became operational in November 2014, more than two years later than expected. As a result of the delay, implementation of the expansion fell short of the Government's initial expectations. The facility was also more expensive than first anticipated, with the contracted cost of establishing the bulk storage facility being up to $19.2 million (including GST) - exceeding significantly the initial estimates of up to $12.9 million. Following the establishment of storage facilities, additional production of LAF commenced in late November 2014 and PM&C anticipates that the annual volume of LAF produced in 2015-16 will double. The department's processes for managing existing contractual arrangements and for monitoring the delivery of LAF are largely sound. Information collected under the production and distribution agreements enables PM&C to maintain appropriate visibility over the volume of LAF supplied and the locations of sites to which it is supplied. The main approach of the PSS is to reduce the availability of RULP in high risk communities by encouraging fuel outlets serving those communities and outlets in surrounding areas to only stock LAF and create a distance buffer zone around vulnerable communities. Accordingly, PM&C monitors supply information so that sites ceasing to supply LAF can be contacted and encouraged to continue to participate in the PSS. In addition, since 2005, a contracted research provider has assessed a sample of communities periodically for incidences of petrol sniffing and the role of LAF in reducing outbreaks. As a result of these data collection arrangements, PM&C has a reasonable evidence base to support the assessment of LAF in reducing the incidence of petrol sniffing. Between 2005 and 2009, the supply of LAF was identified as a program in the Health and Ageing Portfolio Budget Statements, and DoHA reported against the number of sites providing LAF as an indicator of performance for the PSS. Between 2009 and 2014 there was no formal reporting on the progress of the strategy. While the PSS has expanded, albeit more slowly than anticipated, there has been little information publicly reported on the effect that the supply of LAF has had on reducing the incidence of petrol sniffing in Indigenous communities. Research indicates that the supply of LAF is making a positive contribution to reducing petrol sniffing. The design of the PSS, however, also acknowledges that there are limitations to taking a single approach and that other actions need to be undertaken in conjunction with the supply of LAF to successfully address the issue of petrol sniffing. In 2014, the PSS was identified in the Prime Minister and Cabinet Portfolio Budget Statements as a specific initiative to be delivered under the Safety and Wellbeing Programme, with the key performance indicator being the number of sites providing LAF. Using this narrowly-focussed indicator alone, however, will provide for only a limited assessment of performance. In view of the PSS's maturity, it is timely for PM&C to strengthen its PSS-related performance reporting by including a greater focus on assessing the impact of the PSS. The ANAO has made one recommendation to improve PM&C's accountability and reporting for the PSS. . Details: Canberra: Australian National Audit Office, 2015. 96p. Source: Internet Resource: ANAO Report No. 35 2014-15: Accessed May 14, 2015 at: http://apo.org.au/files/Resource/anao_deliveryofthepetrolsniffingstrategyinremoteindigenouscommunities_may_2015.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Australia URL: http://apo.org.au/files/Resource/anao_deliveryofthepetrolsniffingstrategyinremoteindigenouscommunities_may_2015.pdf Shelf Number: 135634 Keywords: AboriginalsIndigenous PeoplesPetrol SniffingSubstance AbuseSubstance Abuse Treatment |
Author: d'Abbs, Peter Title: Monitoring Trends in Prevalence of Petrol Sniffing in Selected Aboriginal Communities 2011-2014: Final Report Summary: This report presents the findings from a study of petrol sniffing prevalence in a sample of 53 Australian Aboriginal communities. The study was commissioned by the Commonwealth Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (PMC) in order to contribute to monitoring the impact of an ongoing rollout of low aromatic fuel (LAF) in communities beset by petrol sniffing, and was conducted by Menzies School of Health Research, Darwin, in partnership with Bowchung Pty Ltd, Canberra. The study commenced in 2011 and was completed in 2014. Details: Darwin: Menzies School of Health Research, 2016.83p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 3, 2016 at: https://www.dpmc.gov.au/sites/default/files/publications/monitoring-trends-petrol-sniffing-2011-14.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Australia URL: https://www.dpmc.gov.au/sites/default/files/publications/monitoring-trends-petrol-sniffing-2011-14.pdf Shelf Number: 140162 Keywords: AboriginalsDrug Abuse and Addiction Petrol Sniffing |