BY EMMA MURPHY
On September 6, a report was released from a coronial inquest held in May and June into three petrol-sniffing related deaths between 1999-2001 in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Lands. The coroner found that, in all three cases, "the deceased took a can containing petrol to bed with them, and continued to sniff until they died".
In a 125-page document, the coroner describes the context surrounding the petrol sniffing crisis: the absolute poverty and serious social and cultural breakdown that is plaguing the lands in South Australia's far north-east.
Nura Ward, a relative of one of the deceased and a member of the Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (NPY) Women's Council, said at the inquest: "Petrol is not from our culture, it's got nothing to do with Aboriginal people's culture or law. It comes from white people, from white people's culture, from white man's law. Kids sniff petrol because families just don't have enough money. They don't have enough of anything."
All the inquest's participants identified petrol sniffing as a symptom of broader social and economic problems, which have reached horrific and unacceptable levels. Aboriginal people living on the lands do not have "food security". From one day to the next they do not know what, or if, they are going to eat. "[A]s a consequence", said consultant John Tregenza, "everyone who lives on these lands is ill."
The coordinator of the NPY Women's Council Domestic Violence Service, Jane Lloyd, reported to the inquiry that 25% of women aged 15 to 44 who live on the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Lands have accessed the domestic violence service. She said that "80% of violence experienced by clients is committed by males who are under the influence of marijuana, alcohol or petrol."
Researcher Dr Paul Torzillo warned the inquiry that responses to the crisis must take into account a population "with major educational and employment disadvantage". "The ability", he argued, "for communities or individual families to tackle this problem is severely limited."
While government agencies have tended to argue that petrol sniffing is a "community" problem requiring a "community" solution, Torzillo pointed out that "this is a community with less resources and ability to control a problem than any mainstream community ... the people of Cabramatta are not told that they have to solve the heroin problem."
While Aboriginal welfare groups have welcomed the coroner's finding, seeing it as a recognition of the harsh reality in which some 2000-2,500 Indigenous South Australians live, there is a growing sense among Anangu people and their supporters that there have been enough reports, enough meetings and investigations.
The Third World conditions in which many Anangu continue to live — the hunger, boredom, sense of hopelessness and loss which cause self-destructive behaviour — have been well documented. What is needed is real and tangible government support, in the form of funding for recreation and rehabilitation programs, and meaningful training and employment programs which may return to Anangu people a sense of control over their lives and the future of their communities.
From 91×ÔÅÄÂÛ̳ Weekly, September 18, 2002.
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