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Local Government calls for action on Opal Fuel roll out

The President of the Local Government Association of the Northern Territory (LGANT), Alderman Kerry Moir called for urgent action in the roll out of Opal fuel to remote Australia.

“I am very disappointed that the Federal Government voted against a motion by Senator Bob Brown for an inquiry into a regional roll out of Opal fuel in central Australia”, said Alderman Moir.

“LGANT, which represents 63 Councils in the NT over 50 of which are on remote Aboriginal communities called for a Territory – wide approach in April 2005 and I wrote to Minister Abbott advising him of this”, Alderman Moir said.

“Minister Abbott in his response raised some financial concerns with the regional roll out of Opal fuel, mainly financial, and the Government has since announced a $9.5m package which is welcome news. However on the face of it, it appears to be a stop-gap measure. What is needed is a more thorough analysis and this could be achieved by an inquiry”, Alderman Moir said.

“Experts in the area know that a regional approach is the most effective way for an Opal fuel roll out to succeed”, said Alderman Moir, “the current piecemeal approach could drive sniffers into Alice Springs or to the hapless remote communities that don’t have Opal fuel”.

“Local Government will be holding its Annual Conference in Alice Springs next month and the issue of petrol sniffing and the roll out of Opal Fuel is an important item on the agenda”, said Alderman Moir. “We hope that the Minister will have a response for our members by then”.

Ends 16 September 2005

Contact:

LGANT President Alderman Kerry Moir 0419 303 378

Manager Communications Phil Maynard 8936 2890 0429 090 833