MP Sandy Bolton seeks public opinion on fluoridation and state control
Noosa MP Sandy Bolton is launching a public survey to gather community opinion on whether water fluoridation should remain a local council matter or be managed at the state level.
Sunshine Coast
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Following recent calls from medical professionals for water fluoridation to be managed at the state level rather than by local councils in Queensland, state independent Member for Noosa, Sandy Bolton, has revealed plans to launch a public survey to gather community feedback on the issue.
Ms Bolton explained that when potential issues arise and spark public discussion, she often seeks community feedback to gauge public sentiment.
“I don’t take my views forward, I take my community’s views forward,” Ms Bolton said.
“We survey on many things and according to the outcome it’s sometimes as simple as just letting the state know the feelings from Noosa on a particular issue.”
“We’re simply asking the community for their thoughts, whether they think it should remain with local government or with the state in terms of mandates, and if so, whether they prefer to retain fluoridation or not,” she said.
The survey will also include a question on the proposed public child sex offender registry, set to be introduced in 2025 with a three-tier system allowing residents to check if individuals have a history of child sexual offending.
The survey will be available on Ms Bolton’s website, through the website’s email list, and via social media, with results publicly posted on the Noosa 360 platform.
In 2008, the Labor government under Anna Bligh mandated fluoride in Queensland’s water, but the power was shifted to councils in 2012 under Campbell Newman’s LNP government.
Since then, several councils, including Gympie, Cairns, and Gladstone, have decided to remove or reject fluoride, adding to the roughly 50 of Queensland’s 77 councils that do not fluoridate their water.
As a result, a quarter of Queenslanders are without access to fluoridated drinking water, compared to 90 per cent of Australians who do. Fluoride has been added to Australian water supplies since 1953, and while most states and territories mandate it, Queensland is an exception.
Last month, Queensland Premier David Crisafulli reaffirmed his government’s stance on water fluoridation, stating that while they recognise its importance, local councils should retain the authority to make decisions on the matter.
Opposition to fluoridation is often based on claims of health risks, such as cognitive impairment and lower IQ.
However, a recent University of Queensland study found no link between water fluoridation and cognitive impairment, with those exposed to fluoride having higher average IQ scores.
This is consistent with global research from organisations like the National Health and Medical Research Council, the World Health Organisation, and the Centres for Disease Control, which all confirm that optimal fluoridation levels are safe, effective, and pose no risks to cognitive development or other health conditions.
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