Queensland - referendum on fluoridating
A FAR north Queensland council will follow the lead of the Darling Downs' Warwick Shire and hold a referendum on fluoridating their water supply.
Cook Shire Council resolved at its last meeting to hold the controversial poll at the same time as the local elections next March. An education campaign will precede the vote, including a public meeting chaired by the former president of the Queensland branch of the Australian Dental Association, Michael Foley.
Residents of Warwick Shire can expect their vote to go ahead mid-year after technical delays and potential confusion over the now-shelved State Government recycled water referendum.
Cook Shire Mayor Bob Sullivan said talk about fluoridation had increased over the past six months and they had resolved to "put it to the community to decide".
"If there was ever going to be a time for any council to do it, now is the time," he said.Personally pro-fluoride, Cr Sullivan said the council would run an independent education campaign."There are a lot of furfies around with putting supplies into the water, but we want to put all the information out there," he said.
"Opinions appear to be a bit divided because I guess some people want the nice pure water that nobody touches, but that's not really the case anyway."
In October 2005, the State Government offered councils with populations of more than 5000 funding to fluoridate their supplies or face possible compulsory action after five years.Warwick was the only council to take the offer.
Warwick Mayor Ron Bellingham said the community was yet to come to a strong resolution for either side of the debate.
"My concern is to get all the information out there so that people can make an informed decision," he said.
"While I have some difficulty with some of the information that has been promulgated, both for and against, I'm quite comfortable with whatever."
Premier Peter Beattie has previously ruled out adding fluoride to the water grid, which will link the 18 southeast Queensland council areas from late 2008.
Only 5 per cent of Queenslanders have fluoride added to their water supplies – in Townsville, Dalby, Mareeba, Moranbah and Bamaga.
Queenslanders have 30 per cent more tooth decay than residents in other states.
furfies! Never heard that word before. There are plenty of fibs from the pro fluoride protagonists.
Cook Shire Council resolved at its last meeting to hold the controversial poll at the same time as the local elections next March. An education campaign will precede the vote, including a public meeting chaired by the former president of the Queensland branch of the Australian Dental Association, Michael Foley.
Residents of Warwick Shire can expect their vote to go ahead mid-year after technical delays and potential confusion over the now-shelved State Government recycled water referendum.
Cook Shire Mayor Bob Sullivan said talk about fluoridation had increased over the past six months and they had resolved to "put it to the community to decide".
"If there was ever going to be a time for any council to do it, now is the time," he said.Personally pro-fluoride, Cr Sullivan said the council would run an independent education campaign."There are a lot of furfies around with putting supplies into the water, but we want to put all the information out there," he said.
"Opinions appear to be a bit divided because I guess some people want the nice pure water that nobody touches, but that's not really the case anyway."
In October 2005, the State Government offered councils with populations of more than 5000 funding to fluoridate their supplies or face possible compulsory action after five years.Warwick was the only council to take the offer.
Warwick Mayor Ron Bellingham said the community was yet to come to a strong resolution for either side of the debate.
"My concern is to get all the information out there so that people can make an informed decision," he said.
"While I have some difficulty with some of the information that has been promulgated, both for and against, I'm quite comfortable with whatever."
Premier Peter Beattie has previously ruled out adding fluoride to the water grid, which will link the 18 southeast Queensland council areas from late 2008.
Only 5 per cent of Queenslanders have fluoride added to their water supplies – in Townsville, Dalby, Mareeba, Moranbah and Bamaga.
Queenslanders have 30 per cent more tooth decay than residents in other states.
furfies! Never heard that word before. There are plenty of fibs from the pro fluoride protagonists.
posted by Bill at
9:33 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home