Premier David Crisafulli backs Qld fluoridation but leaves final say to councils

Queensland premier David Crisafulli has thrown his support behind fluoridated water – but deferred making the final say.

Queensland premier David Crisafulli says his government believes in the importance of fluoridated water – but local councils should still have the final say despite some of the biggest regions kowtowing to anti-fluoride activists.

Queensland premier David Crisafulli has thrown his support behind fluoridated water

The Premier on Friday refused to reverse Campbell Newman’s 2012 decision to make fluoride a matter for local councils and take back control of the public health issue.

It is despite two of his senior ministers previously declaring their emphatic support for mandated fluoride in Queensland’s water supply.

This article is part of The Courier-Mail’s State of Decay series – follow this link to read them all.

“We believe that fluoridation in water is important,” he said.

“It is a matter for councils … many councils have multiple water sources. 

“In some cases it might be for agricultural industry and other times it might be for human consumption.”

In 2008, the then-Labor government under Anna Bligh mandated fluoride in the water, only for Campbell Newman’s LNP government to give the power to councils in 2012.

View post on imgur.com

Medical groups have called on the state government to mandate fluoride again after a slew of councils voted to keep fluoride out of local water systems, which they say has resulted in young children in some cases having all their rotting baby teeth removed under anaesthetic.

Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek, a dentist, in 2008 labelled fluoride in water supplies as “one of my top priorities” when Ms Bligh mandated it.

At the same time Tim Nicholls – now Queensland’s health minister – praised Anna Bligh for mandating fluoride in the state’s water.

“This government was able to put aside some of the fearmongering and the scaremongering that we have all been subject to and to take possibly the last single remaining medical initiative in Queensland to ensure good health for all of us,” Mr Nicholls said.

In 2012 the Newman government, which Mr Nicholls served in as treasurer, reversed Ms Bligh’s change to return the responsibility to councils.

Mr Crisafulli said The Courier-Mail’s Stop the Decay campaign would shine a light on the importance of dental health.

“If your campaign does nothing else other than raise the awareness for local government about the importance in that, where that water supply is for human consumption, that’s great,” he said.

“I think that message should get out there. 

“We believe in local governments being decision makers.”