Former LNP MP Jason Woodforth ‘proud’ fluoride dumped in Qld

A key figure in influencing the Newman Government to ditch fluoride in 2012 was a one-term wonder who is “anti-chemical”, and says he’s proud of his legacy.

Former LNP MP Jason Woodforth.

A key figure in influencing the Newman Government to ditch fluoride mandates in 2012 was a one-term wonder who is “anti-chemical”, spruiks natural bodybuilding and says he’s proud of his legacy despite declining dental health across Queensland.

Former LNP member for Nudgee Jason Woodforth – who has returned to the fitness industry after being dumped by his electorate – told The Courier-Mail that former Premier Campbell Newman credits him with the controversial decision to hand back the responsibility for fluoridation to councils.

Actually, I thought it was a combination of myself and another member but Premier Newman said ‘no, because of you’, solely because of myself. So if that’s the case, that’s the case,” he said.

However, that’s a matter of conjecture for people in the party room at the time and political experts who say there is only one man responsible for the decision to end the mandate: Mr Newman himself.

Former premier Campbell Newman. Photo: Steve Pohlner

The Courier-Mail and its sister publications across Queensland have launched the State of Decay series, highlighting the significant dental health problems in regions without fluoride, as a vocal minority continues to lobby councils to keep the vital mineral out of the water.

In response to Mr Woodforth's claim, Mr Newman said the decision to scrap the mandate was based on his own principles.

“That’s just my libertarian point of view that local communities should decide how to run themselves, and that’s why we wanted to give that power to them, so Jason had his position, but that aligned with what I wanted to do,” he said.

“I wouldn’t say I’m an advocate that every community should have fluoride in the water, but what I’m saying is that I believe that fluoride works and it’s been deemed safe.”

“So that’s, that’s the difference between me and Jason, I’m just about the way government should be run.”

During his time in parliament Mr Woodforth found himself at odds with former colleague and current Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek, who told the junior MP to stop worrying about fluoride and instead focus on his own electorate.

Minister for Education John-Paul Langbroek. Picture: Glenn Campbell

“JP is a dentist and he’s been indoctrinated by the ADA (Australian Dental Association). And to this day I say that he’s still wrong, and it’s a class six poison,” the former supplements store owner said.

“And so I put it on the radar because I’m very anti-chemical and it's a known neurotoxin,” he claimed.

“Even if you do agree that fluoride works, 99 per cent of the fluoridated water you use goes down the drain. Literally, you’re washing up, washing your clothes, doing you’re showering, and that’s not being ingested into your mouth whatsoever.

“They say it costs less than $5 per person. Okay, so if 99 per cent goes down the drain that means that $4.95 is being washed away … that’s $27 million completely wasted when you have the alternative of toothpaste and fluoride tablets.”

Mr Langbroek was reluctant to be drawn on the issue saying only: “This is typical of the type of debate that happens online regarding public health issues, of which fluoride is one.”

Along with being “anti-chemical”, Mr Woodforth was also a crusader for the push to legalise marijuana for medicinal purposes during his time in office.

In 2014, the MP addressed thousands at an annual pro-cannabis Mardis Grass rally in Nimbin about the medical benefits and at the time said that dope smokers were entitled to have their say.

Queensland Health, the Australian Medical Association, the Australian Dental Association all agree that fluoridation, as practised in Australia, is a very safe and effective method of helping protect oral health in everyone, especially children.

Griffith politics professor Paul Williams said he believed the move to end the mandate was a party political one, to stand by their leader Mr Newman and to soak up some of the very right wing elements of the party, for example One Nation voters.

“There’s still a populist, very right wing, fringe vote in Queensland, anything up to 15 to 20 per cent that is up for grabs,” he said.

“It’s not about the cost. It’s really about the politics of regulation, deregulation, devolution and decentralisation … Newman’s philosophy was more libertarian than liberal, and obviously that (decision) was part and parcel of that … which is a perfectly legitimate libertarian philosophy, but in terms of public health, it’s clearly flawed.”

Prof Williams said the anti-fluoride movement had long been a feature of the right, as far back as the 1940s and 1950 when some parts of society in the United States believed fluoride could enter the brain and turn everyone into communists.

Mr Newman, however, rejected that it was a party political decision.

“It’s not about whether fluoride works or fluoride is safe or unsafe, the issue is about how you run government,” he said.

“It’s about local communities should be empowered to make their decisions through their councils, that’s what the issue was to me, nothing to do with fluoride, and it wasn’t party political.”

Around 90 per cent of Australians have access to fluoridated water but that number slips to only 70-odd per cent in Queensland.

“It’s like Queensland’s deliberately making itself a developing state, going back to the 1970s, when it’s a very simple, well established, proven measure to improve children’s health … the consequences have been disastrous.”

Originally published as Former LNP MP Jason Woodforth ‘proud’ fluoride dumped in Qld