Ms CARNEY - 2005-08-16
This will be the first question for the minister. Recently, in Mutitjulu, a coronial inquiry into the deaths of three people was halted because of an interruption by a petrol sniffer. Your government’s substance abuse legislation provides powers to tip out petrol being used by a sniffer. Can you advise if those powers were used in this instance and, if not, why not? Can you also advise on the wellbeing of the sniffer concerned, and what health care, if any, has been offered to him? Finally, why would the Coroner say that he felt powerless to do anything in light of the passing of the substance abuse act earlier this year?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. The tragic deaths the coronial inquiry is looking into in Mutitjulu are an example of how much work still needs to be done to save the lives of young Territorians, and to work with communities to do that. It was very shocking and distressing to everyone to see a young petrol sniffer appear at the coronial inquest. However, what it has done is focus the nation on the scourge that we are tackling here as a government in the Northern Territory.
You are quite right; our Volatile Substance Abuse legislation has provided powers to remove petrol. As you may know - but your question does not allude to - that legislation is not in effect yet. There are regulations still to be introduced to put that legislation into effect. This morning, in the report I provided on petrol sniffing, I advised that the regulations are due either late this year or early next year.
The regulations go into detail about how to enact the provisions within that legislation. For example, they will identify, community by community, people authorised to withdraw petrol from people inhaling. That is important to ensure there is no confusion at the community level about who has the powers. That will vary from community to community, quite appropriately so. Also, it will identify places of safety that petrol sniffers can be taken to, to start the treatment and rehabilitation that has to occur.
I cannot explain why the Coroner did not alert the police or someone to take the petrol off the child. I cannot speak for the Coroner. I hope that, in the instances that this occurs in the future, people do feel empowered to take action, because that is what our government is saying to communities and to the law officers in communities: take the petrol off them. Quite clearly, we are saying that in policy. We have put the legislation in place. However, the legislation has not come into effect because, as we have stated, there are detailed regulations that have to be put into place before the legislation first. That work is being done as part of a $10m commitment by this government to tackle petrol sniffing. $2m is being spent this year ...
Ms Carney: There will be another couple of inquests before the act comes in.
Ms LAWRIE: Might I say it is rather cute for the opposition to lead with the chin on this one when, in the election, you said: ‘Rip the $10m out of petrol sniffing and put that elsewhere’ ...
Ms CARNEY: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I ask the minister to withdraw her claim that I said: ‘rip $10m out of petrol sniffing’. It is a lie and mistruth and I ask that she withdraw it .
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order. If you feel that you have been misquoted in this House you can come and speak to me about making a personal explanation at a later time.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. The tragic deaths the coronial inquiry is looking into in Mutitjulu are an example of how much work still needs to be done to save the lives of young Territorians, and to work with communities to do that. It was very shocking and distressing to everyone to see a young petrol sniffer appear at the coronial inquest. However, what it has done is focus the nation on the scourge that we are tackling here as a government in the Northern Territory.
You are quite right; our Volatile Substance Abuse legislation has provided powers to remove petrol. As you may know - but your question does not allude to - that legislation is not in effect yet. There are regulations still to be introduced to put that legislation into effect. This morning, in the report I provided on petrol sniffing, I advised that the regulations are due either late this year or early next year.
The regulations go into detail about how to enact the provisions within that legislation. For example, they will identify, community by community, people authorised to withdraw petrol from people inhaling. That is important to ensure there is no confusion at the community level about who has the powers. That will vary from community to community, quite appropriately so. Also, it will identify places of safety that petrol sniffers can be taken to, to start the treatment and rehabilitation that has to occur.
I cannot explain why the Coroner did not alert the police or someone to take the petrol off the child. I cannot speak for the Coroner. I hope that, in the instances that this occurs in the future, people do feel empowered to take action, because that is what our government is saying to communities and to the law officers in communities: take the petrol off them. Quite clearly, we are saying that in policy. We have put the legislation in place. However, the legislation has not come into effect because, as we have stated, there are detailed regulations that have to be put into place before the legislation first. That work is being done as part of a $10m commitment by this government to tackle petrol sniffing. $2m is being spent this year ...
Ms Carney: There will be another couple of inquests before the act comes in.
Ms LAWRIE: Might I say it is rather cute for the opposition to lead with the chin on this one when, in the election, you said: ‘Rip the $10m out of petrol sniffing and put that elsewhere’ ...
Ms CARNEY: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I ask the minister to withdraw her claim that I said: ‘rip $10m out of petrol sniffing’. It is a lie and mistruth and I ask that she withdraw it .
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order. If you feel that you have been misquoted in this House you can come and speak to me about making a personal explanation at a later time.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016