Page 1611 - Week 08 - Thursday, 28 September 1989
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SOCIAL POLICY - STANDING COMMITTEE
Reference
DR KINLOCH (12.01): I move:
That -
(1) the matter of fluoride in relation to public health be immediately referred to the Standing Committee on Social Policy;
(2) the committee be asked to seek professional, technical and scientific advice on several matters including:
(a) the effect of fluoride on public health;
(b) the issue of mass medication and civil liberties; and
(c) other matters relating to the issue of fluoridation in the ACT which the committee considers should be drawn to the attention of the Assembly.
I repeat that in the debate yesterday - nothing has been decided today - I made it very clear, and if need be I will read out exactly what I said yesterday, that the moment we have a level playing field, that is, that fluoride is out of the water, then we have an investigation. I am quoting the exact speech of yesterday, and I agree that on such a matter as putting a potentially toxic substance in the water there should be public consultation. What I am suggesting is that that process of public consultation takes place immediately after the fluoride is removed when you go back to square one. After you remove the toxic and possibly harmful substance from the water, then I would be happy, I said yesterday, to support the establishment of a select committee to examine the matter or to put the matter before the Social Policy Committee. That is in yesterday's Hansard. I am not going to be told across the chamber that I am a wimp on this matter. I ask Mr Whalan to withdraw his comments, to apologise to me, as he surely should have done also yesterday when he made statements about me that were entirely false and improper. So the main principle on this matter for me and for many others is to do with the time at which you have this necessary inquiry.
I am not going to speak long on this matter. I know the time of the house is valuable. Yesterday in this Assembly I indicated that in the matter of putting that toxic substance in the water there should be public consultation and objective, updated research under objective conditions. What I then clearly noted was that such a process of public consultation and research should take place under neutral circumstances, that is, during a time when no such toxic substance is actually in the water. I cannot say that too often. That has nothing to do with immediate reaction. There it was yesterday. You did not listen to it, Paul. Those conditions now exist.
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