Australia - Councils should decide on water

Councils should decide on water fluoridation, says Barry O'Farrell

NSW premier opposed to state control, despite calling Lismore council's decision to stop fluoridation 'stupid'il

• Australian Associated Press
• theguardian.com, Thursday 22 August 2013 07.46 BST

Barry O'Farrell, a supporter of fluoridation, respects the rights of councils to decide for themselves. Photograph: Dan Himbrechts/(AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts)

NSW premier Barry O'Farrell says he does not believe the state government should take control of water fluoridation from local councils, despite his condemnation of some councils' decision to stop it.

Ballina council is the latest to debate the issue, with a vote expected on Thursday to decide whether it will join nearby Lismore and 17 Queensland councils that have voted no to fluoridation this year.

The NSW health minister, Jillian Skinner, has asked her department to prepare a discussion paper on whether the state government should take over the responsibility from individual councils. Public comment will be invited, she says.

But on Thursday, O'Farrell told reporters he supported the right of councils to decide for themselves.

"It's appropriate that local councils should continue making those decisions," he said.