'Waste of money': calls for fluoridated water inquiry rejected

http://www.smh.com.au/environment/water-issues/waste-of-money-call...

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June 15, 2013

Josephine Tovey
Education Editor

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Jillian Skinner: Doesn't support a review.

The Minister for Health and opposition have balked at a suggestion from a NSW Greens MP for a parliamentary inquiry into the safety of fluoridated water, labelling the move a "waste of money" that could suggest there are unsubstantiated health risks. The call has also prompted raised eyebrows from other members of the Greens party, with one senior NSW source saying it will come as a "surprise to many". MLC John Kaye, the NSW Greens health spokesman, told the Guardian Australia on Saturday the state government should consider an inquiry into the safety of adding fluoride to drinking water. Dr Kaye, who describes himself as "strongly pro-fluoride", said he nevertheless thought an inquiry or some other form of public debate was necessary to address the concerns of many opponents within the community, particularly on the state's north coast. The NSW Court of Appeal recently ruled in favour of Rous Water and Ballina Shire Council building plants to add fluoride to drinking water, following an appeal from a local anti-fluoride campaigner. Dr Kaye said it was not good public policy to ignore a community which says it does not want fluoride. "There is a substantial community on the North Coast who reject the science on fluoride and who believe that it not only does not assist in dental health but it also has adverse health consequences," he said. "We need to engage with that community and respectfully understand where they're coming from and explain to them there are huge public health benefits." "We can't just say the science is settled, we'll ignore your concerns." But NSW Health Minister Jillian Skinner expressed concern at the suggestion of an inquiry. "I believe the public of NSW benefits greatly from fluoridated water and I would not support any review that intimated any unsubstantiated health risk from its use," she told Fairfax Media on Saturday. The state Labor opposition flat-out rejected the idea, with health spokesman Andrew MacDonald labelling such an inquiry a "waste of money". "Anti-fluoride campaigners do use tactics like this as a vehicle for their views," he said.

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'Waste of money': calls for fluoridated water inquiry rejected

http://www.smh.com.au/environment/water-issues/waste-of-money-call...

"It would just just give oxygen to the contrarians." A senior source within the NSW Greens said the call had raised eyebrows within the party. "There is strong support for fluoridation from the Greens membership," the source said. "The call for an inquiry is not a decision of the party and will come as a surprise to many." At least six Queensland councils have elected to remove fluoride from their water since the Coalition state government devolved the decision-making power to local councils. NSW Health policy states that water fluoridation should be extended to as many people as possible in NSW, to prevent tooth decay. It cites the US Centers for Disease assertion that water fluoridation is "one of the top ten public health achievements of the 20th Century." Dr Kaye's call prompted a strong response on Twitter. Federal Greens leader Christine Milne weighed in, tweeting "Science is settled on fluoride, vaccination,accelerating global warming Greens support science and evidence based public health policy."

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