Description

The article argues that, while the Opal fuel initiative to replace unleaded petrol in communities affected by petrol sniffing, has largely been a success, other objectives of the strategy have not been met. The Opal initiative was only successful when it also encompassed larger settlements, including Alice Springs, and roadhouses and has not reached all communities. Petrol sniffing is still a problem in these areas. The extension or development of youth services throughout central Australia, part of the original strategy, has not been accomplished, with initial funding restricted to only four communities and some problems in establishment. It was not until 2009 that further funding enable services to spread more widely. The authors suggest that the success of the Opal initiative and struggles of the rest of the strategy can be explained by the level of community involvement and support.

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