Page 1488 - Week 08 - Wednesday, 27 September 1989
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The Assembly voted -
AYES, 5 NOES, 12
Mr Berry Mr Collaery
Ms Follett Mr Duby
Mrs Grassby Mr Humphries
Mr Whalan Mr Jensen
Mr Wood Mr Kaine
Dr Kinloch
Ms Maher
Mr Moore
Mrs Nolan
Mr Prowse
Mr Stefaniak
Mr Stevenson
Question resolved in the negative.
MR BERRY (Minister for Community Services and Health) (10.48): The issue, as I said a moment ago, is that the debate has been emotion driven. The private member's Bill to amend the Electricity and Water Act, if passed into law, may have long and deleterious effects on the dental health of future generations of Canberra children. I think the last time I said that, there was a cry of "Rubbish!", but I also preceded my comments in relation to this matter with the very clear statement that the Government has not taken a position on fluoride.
This is about getting the matter out to the public for consultation, and I think it is a matter of great shame that so far amongst the people on the other side of the house there has been great resistance to the idea of public consultation. In fact, the larger part of them have walked away from it on one significant occasion in the past.
Mr Kaine: We walk away from any charade and we will continue to do it, Mr Berry.
MR BERRY: You might be rather agitated about that, Mr Kaine, but the record is clear - - -
Mr Kaine: I am not agitated at all. You seem to be.
MR BERRY: The record is clear; you walked away from it.
Mr Kaine: I sure did. I am not into games playing.
MR BERRY: If this happened without sensible and informed debate on the issues, today's children, and people who have received the advantages of fluoridated water for 25 years, would never forgive us for loading them, as future parents, with the expense and worry of dental bills and the lifelong problems of reduced dental health their children might suffer.
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