Opal fuel 'urban myth'

Health Minister Tony Abbott has urged Northern Territory residents to ignore the "urban myth" that non-sniffable Opal fuel damages car engines.

Recent reports suggest the government's roll-out of the fuel has been beset with problems that threaten to undermine its effort to stamp out petrol-sniffing in the territory.

Mr Abbott conceded that the government campaign was not going as smoothly as hoped.

"It's very early days, but yes there have been some problems in Alice Springs," Mr Abbott told reporters in Sydney.

The minister put the problems down to misconceptions about the performance of the fuel, which cannot be used as an inhalant.

Mr Abbott said the two incidents which supposedly proved Opal ruined engines had been investigated and proved to be unfounded.

"There was a misinformation campaign, sort of an urban myth campaign if you like, that Opal fuel would damage your engine," Mr Abbott said.

"I would certainly encourage Territorians who use Opal fuel to use it because it's a very important part of our strategy to end petrol sniffing."

Source: AAP 2006