and who have endured much suffering and grief as a result of their inability to do so, and the consequent death of a loved family member. Petrol sniffing is endemic on the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Lands. It has caused and continues to cause devastating harm to the community, including approximately 35 deaths in the last 20 years in a population of between 2,000 and 2,500. Serious disability, crime, cultural breakdown and general grief and misery are also consequences. The phenomenon is still not well-understood, and although considerable research has been undertaken, Governments still do not have a clear idea how many people are involved, and the extent to which they have already suffered serious harm. The extent of the problem diminished somewhat in the mid 1990’s, and it is apparent that there was a reduction in effort towards tackling the problem. It has been apparent since at least 1998 that the problem was returning, and that the prognosis was bad, but little has been achieved to restore the effort to pre-1995 levels, let alone take it further. Clearly, socio-economic factors play a part in the general aetiology of petrol sniffing. Poverty, hunger, illness, low education levels, almost total unemployment, boredom and general feelings of hopelessness form the environment in which such selfdestructive behaviour takes place. That such conditions should exist among a group of people defined by race in the 21st century in a developed nation like Australia is a disgrace and should shame us all. Many attempts over the years to combat petrol sniffing have been unsuccessful. Anangu continue to try and care for sniffers even when they continue to sniff, and even after they are violent and disruptive to their families and the community. Some Anangu are concerned that if they try and stop sniffers they will harm them, or that the sniffers may harm themselves. They look to the broader community to help them deal with a problem which has no precedent in traditional culture. The South Australian Government established the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Lands Inter-Agency Collaboration Committee (‘APLIICC’) to tackle the wider issues and the Petrol Sniffing Task Force (‘PSTF’) to specifically tackle petrol sniffing. The terms of reference of APLIICC were established in September 2001. It has held several meetings, as have its sub-committees, but the meeting’ with Anangu on the ‘big Anangu Pitjantjatjara Lands is yet to occur.
and who have endured much suffering and grief as a result of their inability to do so, and the consequent death of a loved family member. Petrol sniffing is endemic on the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Lands. It has caused and continues to cause devastating harm to the community, including approximately 35 deaths in the last 20 years in a population of between 2,000 and 2,500. Serious disability, crime, cultural breakdown and general grief and misery are also consequences. The phenomenon is still not well-understood, and although considerable research has been undertaken, Governments still do not have a clear idea how many people are involved, and the extent to which they have already suffered serious harm. The extent of the problem diminished somewhat in the mid 1990’s, and it is apparent that there was a reduction in effort towards tackling the problem. It has been apparent since at least 1998 that the problem was returning, and that the prognosis was bad, but little has been achieved to restore the effort to pre-1995 levels, let alone take it further. Clearly, socio-economic factors play a part in the general aetiology of petrol sniffing. Poverty, hunger, illness, low education levels, almost total unemployment, boredom and general feelings of hopelessness form the environment in which such selfdestructive behaviour takes place. That such conditions should exist among a group of people defined by race in the 21st century in a developed nation like Australia is a disgrace and should shame us all. Many attempts over the years to combat petrol sniffing have been unsuccessful. Anangu continue to try and care for sniffers even when they continue to sniff, and even after they are violent and disruptive to their families and the community. Some Anangu are concerned that if they try and stop sniffers they will harm them, or that the sniffers may harm themselves. They look to the broader community to help them deal with a problem which has no precedent in traditional culture. The South Australian Government established the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Lands Inter-Agency Collaboration Committee (‘APLIICC’) to tackle the wider issues and the Petrol Sniffing Task Force (‘PSTF’) to specifically tackle petrol sniffing. The terms of reference of APLIICC were established in September 2001. It has held several meetings, as have its sub-committees, but the ‘big meeting’ with Anangu on the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Lands is yet to occur.