Cairns water fluoride survey sparks backlash from health professionals

Health professionals from Cairns are collectively calling for greater community consultation on water fluoridisation, stating council surveying of 6 per cent of residents “doesn’t cut it.”

The Copperlode Dam, also known as Lake Morris, is the City of Cairns' main water supply, spilling over into Freshwater Creek in the Redlynch Valley. Picture: Brendan Radke

Cairns health and dental professionals have called on Mayor Amy Eden to meet with them to discuss water fluoridisation, after results of council’s community survey showed about half of respondents backed adding fluoride to the water system.

As part of the 2024 Our Cairns survey, 37 per cent of the 10,000 surveyed were against adding fluoride to Cairns’ water supply, 48 per cent were in support, and 15 per cent were unsure.

Australian Dental Association Cairns branch president Dr Brian James said he supported the move to add fluoride to the water supply as it would greatly improve the dental health of Cairns residents.

“As a profession, we’re in favour of it in terms of a public health measure to reduce dental caries in the community,” Dr James said.

Behana Gorge, south of Gordonvale, is the secondary source of drinking water for the Cairns Regional Council local government area. The Far North’s health practitioners want fluoride added back into drinking water. Picture: Brendan Radke

Of particular concern to Dr James were patients who could not afford access to dental care, who would be able to benefit from water fluoridisation.

“It’s all well and good to say people can add their own fluoride, and you can if that’s an option for you,” he said.

“But if you’re a child in a family situation with domestic violence and poverty, you don’t have that option and they’re the people we’re trying to provide some benefit to.”

Cairns general practitioner Dr Nicole Sleeman said basing a decision on survey findings, which included less than 10 per cent of Cairns’ population was not enough to base a major health decision on.

“There hasn’t been any consultation of the health sector and surveying six per cent of the community doesn’t really cut it,” Dr Sleeman said.

Dr Nicole Sleeman wants greater community consultation on fluoride for drinking water. Picture: Supplied

Dr Sleeman said the Tropical Public Health Service (a branch of the Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service), and other health professionals, including dentists, had put in a deputation request but had not heard anything back.

“Community consultation, by nature, should engage all sectors of the community and so a council survey not accessible to a large portion of Cairns … is appalling.”

Mayor Eden confirmed she had received emails with information from both supporters and those against fluoridisation.

“I understand we’ve received a request for a deputation, which is being processed,” Ms Eden said.

Dr James said if Cairns Regional Council were to approve adding fluoride to the water, it would greatly impact the region and could be a lasting legacy for Ms Eden.
“I know that any decision on this is going to be contentious but that doesn't mean it’s not the right decision,” he said.

Cairns Regional Council Mayor Amy Eden has maintained adding fluoride to water is a state government responsibility. Picture Emily Barker.

Responding to the results of the survey on Saturday, Ms Eden said the state government “should never have handballed the responsibility (for fluoridation) to council in 2012” and that the results of the survey showed no “overwhelming community support either for or against”.

She said if health professionals and residents wanted fluoride in the water supply, they needed to lobby the state government and local MPs.

The council “reaffirmed” its position not to fluoridate the Cairns Regional Council water supply due to an “ethical public health policy”, which states “mass involuntary medication should not proceed without the express consent of the community”.

Council also said there were methods, other than through the water supply, which can be used to deliver fluoride to those who are “most in need”.

Originally published as Cairns water fluoride survey sparks backlash from health professionals