The simple fact is that the Petrol Sniffing Strategy of the Govt remains a half-cocked, badly-administered scheme, after having consumed possibly many hundreds of millions of dollars.
While the Govt subsidises the production and distribution of Opal fuel in Aboriginal Lands where petrol sniffing is prevalent, it does nothing to ensure the complete security of Avgas - and it relies on fuel suppliers and distributors to supply non-sniffable petrol via voluntary participation, not compulsory participation.
Both these factors are gaping holes in the PSS that need to be closed promptly. In 2013, the Low Aromatic Fuel Act was passed and received Royal Assent - which Act gives the reponsible Minister the power to designate a fuel control area, and to determine the requirements relating to the supply, transportation, possession and storage of (sniffable) fuels in those areas.
To date, the powers under that Act have never been used, and voluntary participation in ensuring only Low Aromatic Fuels are available in high-risk areas, is still the order of the day.
It's simply time to ensure that the intent of the Act is carried out - and that not only the distribution of LAF is made compulsory throughout Aboriginal Lands - but that intensive security arrangements are initiated, with regard to all sniffable forms of petrol.
Bottom line is, what is the potential damage to aircraft from petrol sniffers accessing aircraft fuel supplies - either in aircraft fuel tanks, or in drums?
Performance Audit - Petrol Sniffing Strategy - remote indigenous communities