Page 2411 - Week 11 - Thursday, 2 November 1989
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increasing the total fluoride intake above the level which achieves optimal preventive benefit with minimum risk of side effects. These two issues will be targets of further research by the working party.
The other main question identified for further work hinges on the possibility of there being alternative methods of distributing fluoride to the general community, which are perhaps more narrowly targeted at children, which are just as cost-effective and which are capable of reaching those sections of the community that may not be capable of taking responsibility for their own dental health.
In response to the interim report of the working party, the National Health and Medical Research Council passed the following resolution which summarises its current position:
Council notes the interim report -
and I would like to emphasise that it is an interim report -
of the working party on water fluoridation and endorses its three main lines of enquiry. It looks forward to a definitive response to the questions raised by Dr's Diesendorf, Sutton and Colquhoun in their letter to the Chairman at the May meeting in 1990.
The report, of course, is due at the May meeting in 1990. The interim report continues:
Meanwhile it affirms its earlier recommendations that fluoridation of community water supplies is an important public health measure which has been highly successful in the prevention of tooth decay and that there is no reputable scientific or medical evidence to suggest that current fluoridation levels are causing harm.
Mr Speaker, the responsible position that the National Health and Medical Research Council has adopted in examining the matters closely is endorsed by the Government, but it in itself is an endorsement of the Government's position. I should add that this position was supported during early negotiations on this issue by Mr Moore, who was then from the Residents Rally, because I think Mr Moore responsibly recognised that - - -
Mr Collaery: On a point of order, Mr Speaker; this is gamesmanship across the floor. They have wasted seven minutes; it should be a ministerial statement.
MR SPEAKER: Order! Thank you, Mr Collaery. That was not part of the question, Mr Berry.
MR BERRY: It is about addressing the issue, Mr Speaker.
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