❓ Ravlich asks about banning the sale of volatile substances to children. The Minister for Mental Health declines, citing the wide range of substances, existing voluntary codes, and logistical difficulties, while acknowledging a coroner's recommendation regarding butane.
AnsweredQoN 245Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Consider making the sale of volatile substances to children illegal?
(2) If no to (1), why not?
(2) If no to (1), why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
8 April 2009
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary representing the Minister for Mental Health
Response time
29 days
1. No.
2. There has been neither discussion nor suggestion that the sale of all volatile substances to children should be banned. Volatile substances include an extensive range of products used for everyday purposes. They include but are not limited to glues, petrol, paint thinners and removers, dry cleaning fluids, correction fluids, felt tip markers, spray paint, fuels for camping, cooking and lighting devices and cleaning fluids.
There are existing voluntary codes of conduct restricting the sale of products such as spray paints to minors and the State Government supports that approach.
The Coroner's finding dated 28 November 2008 into the tragic death of a young woman was specific to butane and recommended banning the sale of cigarette lighter refills and not all volatile substances.
While the State Government will not rule out implementation of legislation as recommended by the Coroner, the Minister for Mental Health is not convinced that this is the best course of action
at this point of time
.
Butane misuse in Western Australia is cyclical and episodic in nature and has continued to remain limited to a small number of young people since the investigation of the Western Australian Taskforce on Butane Misuse in 2006.
Retailer compliance and enforcement of legislation would be problematic and logistically difficult as there are a wide range of butane products which are readily available from an estimated 5000 to 6000 retail outlets as well as on the internet.
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2. There has been neither discussion nor suggestion that the sale of all volatile substances to children should be banned. Volatile substances include an extensive range of products used for everyday purposes. They include but are not limited to glues, petrol, paint thinners and removers, dry cleaning fluids, correction fluids, felt tip markers, spray paint, fuels for camping, cooking and lighting devices and cleaning fluids.
There are existing voluntary codes of conduct restricting the sale of products such as spray paints to minors and the State Government supports that approach.
The Coroner's finding dated 28 November 2008 into the tragic death of a young woman was specific to butane and recommended banning the sale of cigarette lighter refills and not all volatile substances.
While the State Government will not rule out implementation of legislation as recommended by the Coroner, the Minister for Mental Health is not convinced that this is the best course of action
at this point of time
.
Butane misuse in Western Australia is cyclical and episodic in nature and has continued to remain limited to a small number of young people since the investigation of the Western Australian Taskforce on Butane Misuse in 2006.
Retailer compliance and enforcement of legislation would be problematic and logistically difficult as there are a wide range of butane products which are readily available from an estimated 5000 to 6000 retail outlets as well as on the internet.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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