Fluoride: Tasmanian council says towns should be able to decide what is added to drinking water

Most Australian towns have fluoride added to their water — but one council in northern Tasmania is pushing to give towns a vote on whether or not that continues.
Tasmania was the first state in the country to put fluoride into drinking water, back in 1953, with the purpose of helping to keep teeth strong.

At present it is the Government who makes the decision on whether fluoride is added to the state's drinking water. But Kentish Council Mayor Don Thwaites said they wanted that decision to be handed over to councils. "The motion is that councils be allowed to have a vote on whether they want fluoride added to the public water supply or not in their area," he said. "It's not about whether fluoride should be added or not, we believe that that's a debate that can happen after it's decided whether we can actually have a vote on the subject or not." Mr Thwaites said the decision came out of a response to concerns from the community, expressed to them by councillors.

The issue of water fluoridation will be discussed at a statewide meeting of Tasmanian councils later this month..............