Australia - State shuts its ears
State shuts its ears
SHANE FOWLES
August 29, 2007
VOCAL anti-fluoride activists have failed to halt the introduction of the chemical into water supplies of 12 towns in the past 18 months, it emerged yesterday.
Public opposition and pressure from all sides of politics has not stopped expansion of water fluoridation. But the lack of success does not daunt Warrnambool protesters, who believe they are running a different campaign. ``I fully understand that other areas have failed. But I am 100 per cent confident that... it will not end up in our water,'' Peter Hulin said yesterday. Before last year's election, the Labor Government was under fire for its pro-fluoride stance. Petitions were tabled in Parliament - Wodonga and Wangaratta alone collected more than 5400 signatures. Councils in those two towns, plus Horsham, called for new studies and a referendum.
Politicians, including Lab-or MP Dianne Hadden, slammed the state's handling of the issue and backed calls for a public vote. The lobbying had no influence and fluoride was added to a dozen towns' water during the past 18 months.
Warrnambool's situation saw the parliamentary debate reignited last week by Democratic Labor Party MP Peter Kavanagh and the Liberals' Bruce Atkinson.
``I must say that I think the debate over fluoride has well and truly been had in the community,'' Labor's Theo Theophanous said in Parliament last week. But Nationals MP Peter Hall believes the debate should be restarted. He saw Gippsland towns fluoridated last year, despite widespread opposition. ``What particularly annoys the people I represent is that they were given no say whatsoever in the decision to add fluoride to their water,'' he said at the time. ``It makes the
community consultation credentials of this Government a farce.''
Mr Hall said yesterday that calls for a balanced debate and survey had been brushed aside. But people should not be deterred.
``We have a new Premier and a new Health Minister, it is still worthwhile talking about it.'' Warrnambool's Fluoride Action Group believes it can prevent fluoridation of the city's water supply, Mr Hulin said. ``We are possibly going about it in a different way.''
SHANE FOWLES
August 29, 2007
VOCAL anti-fluoride activists have failed to halt the introduction of the chemical into water supplies of 12 towns in the past 18 months, it emerged yesterday.
Public opposition and pressure from all sides of politics has not stopped expansion of water fluoridation. But the lack of success does not daunt Warrnambool protesters, who believe they are running a different campaign. ``I fully understand that other areas have failed. But I am 100 per cent confident that... it will not end up in our water,'' Peter Hulin said yesterday. Before last year's election, the Labor Government was under fire for its pro-fluoride stance. Petitions were tabled in Parliament - Wodonga and Wangaratta alone collected more than 5400 signatures. Councils in those two towns, plus Horsham, called for new studies and a referendum.
Politicians, including Lab-or MP Dianne Hadden, slammed the state's handling of the issue and backed calls for a public vote. The lobbying had no influence and fluoride was added to a dozen towns' water during the past 18 months.
Warrnambool's situation saw the parliamentary debate reignited last week by Democratic Labor Party MP Peter Kavanagh and the Liberals' Bruce Atkinson.
``I must say that I think the debate over fluoride has well and truly been had in the community,'' Labor's Theo Theophanous said in Parliament last week. But Nationals MP Peter Hall believes the debate should be restarted. He saw Gippsland towns fluoridated last year, despite widespread opposition. ``What particularly annoys the people I represent is that they were given no say whatsoever in the decision to add fluoride to their water,'' he said at the time. ``It makes the
community consultation credentials of this Government a farce.''
Mr Hall said yesterday that calls for a balanced debate and survey had been brushed aside. But people should not be deterred.
``We have a new Premier and a new Health Minister, it is still worthwhile talking about it.'' Warrnambool's Fluoride Action Group believes it can prevent fluoridation of the city's water supply, Mr Hulin said. ``We are possibly going about it in a different way.''
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