Viva Energy's decision to scraps sale of 95 unleaded fuel in Fitzroy Crossing a win against sniffing: Sterle

Viva Energy has ceased the sale of 95 unleaded in Fitzroy Crossing, after children as young as 11 were stealing the fuel to inhale. The petrol sniffing crisis has long been a stain on the West Kimberley town, with a 2020 report by National Indigenous Times stating up to 70 per cent of the communities children had been involved in the activity. In response, one of the town’s two fuel stations, Ngiyali Roadhouse, owned and operated by Marra Worra Worra Aboriginal Corporation, removed 95 unleaded pumps, which hold toxic aromatic components which create ‘a high’ when sniffed. Community stakeholders including Senator Glenn Sterle, Nindilingarri Cultural Health Services and Fitzroy Crossing police met with the Australian petroleum conglomerate — which supplies to Fitzroy Crossing Coles Express — and requested they pull the plug on the Kimberley town’s remaining premium supply. According to Senator Sterle, the direction was met with flat-out refusal. “They didn’t want to take this product out of Fitzroy Crossing because of the odd tourist who comes through and wants to get 95,” Senator Sterle said. “It was very frustrating.” However, while addressing the issue in Canberra last month, Senator Sterle revealed Viva Energy had backflipped and agreed to remove the bowsers from Coles Express. “In a magnificent achievement, we’ve finally shamed Viva into stopping the sale of 95 unleaded,” he announced. “It is very, very comforting and very, very rewarding to know that I don’t have to sit there with the police anymore and look at footage of kids as young as 11 years of age breaking into these bowsers to desperately get their hands on 95 petrol to sniff. “I want to take this opportunity to thank a few people because now we’ve achieved it.” Viva Energy was contacted for comment but did not respond by time of print.