Page 565 - Week 02 - Thursday, 21 February 1991
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the position of those opposite. Until they clear that up, they have a hide to come and ask the Government to change its chairmen of committees, merely because they think there might be some possibility of a lack of impartiality in matters that they deal with.
WATER SUPPLY (CHEMICAL TREATMENT) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1991
Debate resumed from 14 February 1991, on motion by Mr Humphries:
That this Bill be agreed to in principle.
MR BERRY (11.46): This Bill is associated with some headlines in the Territory over the period of self-government. It is a shame the Speaker is not here because he featured in some of those headlines in one way or another.
Mr Moore: Monkeying around with the water supply.
MR BERRY: Monkeying around with the water supply. Some amusement flowed from the issue because of some of the antics that were reported here, such as somebody tampering with the Speaker's filtered water and so on. Allegations that indeed were not proven but were enough to cause grave concern to anybody who did not want to have an intake of fluoride were a cause of community consternation - and, more particularly, a cause of concern for some members in this place.
It is a serious matter. This Bill seeks to extend the time for consideration of the fluoride issue. I am pleased that the fluoride will continue in the water supply, in accordance with the National Health and Medical Research Council's view - that is, that one part per million should be the order of the day - and that the Government will have time to respond to the recommendations of the committee. There is no point in going on about the committee's report because that is a debate for another day. It is the responsibility of the Government to maintain the status quo while it considers the issue, and I welcome indications from the Government that the status quo will be observed while they look at the situation.
DR KINLOCH (11.48): I thank Mr Berry for his good comments there - not all of them, but most. In order for the full implications of the committee report to be evaluated, an extension of time from 28 February 1991 to 31 August 1991 is sought, during which time fluoride will be kept in the ACT water supply until a final decision is made by the Assembly. This is in congruence with the extension of time sought on 29 November 1990, which allowed the standing committee to examine the findings of the NHMRC inquiry into the fluoride issue. Individual and civil libertarian
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