Australia - Tableland residents rally against fluoride

Tableland residents rally against fluoride
Liam Parsons
Monday, July 2, 2012
KURANDA dad Clayton Grove says it is the fear of the unknown that concerns him most about having fluoride added to his family's drinking water.
"It’s forced medication really," he said.
Mr Grove and his daughter Lani, 2, were among a group of about 50 Kuranda residents who met at Centenary Park yesterday armed with drums to protest against the fluoridation of the area’s drinking water.
Rallies of similar size were also held at Malanda and Yungaburra yesterday, in a region-wide protest.
Mr Grove remains sceptical about the advertised health benefits of fluoridation.
"What about for families who use baby formula, what is the correct amount for a baby and how do you know if it’s more than enough?" Mr Grove said.
"I drink a lot of water so how will I know if I’m having too much and what will it do to your body?"
Tablelands Regional Council Mayor Rosa Lee Long, who attended the Malanda rally, had good news for the protesters.
She said Local Government Minister David Crisafulli had committed to taking the issue to Cabinet and had indicated he was confident the decision-making process on fluoride would be returned to local councils.
The previous Labor Government was a supporter of introducing fluoride to water supplies.

"We’re hoping to have the ruling overturned for Kuranda, Malanda and Atherton so we don’t have to put fluoride in the water, so that’s good news," she said.....