Australia - Council loses battle on fluoride

21st September 2012 5:21 AM
BUNDABERG Regional Council has been told it has lost its fight against being forced to fluoridate the water supply after a week of confusion about the issue.
The council has been mounting strong resistance to legislation put in place by the previous Labor State Government forcing it to put fluoride in the water by the end of the year.
And councillors thought they had won the fight when Member for Burnett Stephen Bennett said on Monday they would not be forced into the move.
But Mr Bennett said yesterday he had misheard a statement by Health Minister Lawrence Springborg on the radio.
He said the decision to force Bundaberg to go ahead with fluoridating its water was made at a Cabinet meeting in Cairns on Tuesday.
But he said he was hearing from his constituents they were very unhappy about the region being forced to go ahead and fluoridate its water.
Council water and wastewater spokesman Alan Bush was "very disappointed" yesterday to hear about the State Government decision.
Cr Bush said after discussions with Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney and Local Government Minister David Crisafulli he was under the impression the government would not force the issue.
"This is a real backflip," he said.
Cr Bush said after discussions between senior staff on both sides the council had not made provision in this year's budget for fluoridation, which had to be carried out by the end of December.
He said he could not understand the decision given the cost-cutting exercise the government was engaged in.
"Here's a perfect chance to save $6.5 million and everybody will be really happy," he said.
Cr Bush said if they were going to be forced to go ahead with the scheme the council would have to put off some other capital works it had scheduled.
He said the council would have to increase its water charges by 10% to cover the cost of the infrastructure and the annual running costs.
"I believe if the State Government can't fully fund it why do we have to be forced to put up $1.3 million," he said.
A spokeswoman for Mr Springborg said she did not know why the council thought Bundaberg would be exempt from fluoridating.
She said the scheme was in line with the legislation and was for the benefit of all Queenslanders.
"There's no reason why they can't apply for an extension," she said.