Why state should conquer councils and take fluoride control

The state's decision resulted in councillors across Queensland pandering to a tin-hat minority of residents in their community.

BY NOT standardising the fluoridation of water across Queensland, the State Government has thrown councils a hospital pass.

The Bligh government mandated fluoride in Queensland's water supply in 2008 but Campbell Newman wound back that reform during his term in office, handing the responsibility back to councils.

Right across Queensland nervous councillors, fearing a backlash from a small number of tin foil hat residents in their communities, buckled and pulled fluoride from water.

Queensland now has the nation's worst dental health.

Countless experts including the Department of Health and Australian Medical Association have advocated the use of carefully-controlled fluoride in water to protect people's teeth.

When the state abrogated its responsibility six years ago, fluoride became a political issue, rather than a health one.

Local government is not responsible for elective surgery or chronic disease, so why should councils have a say on dental health?

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, Deputy Opposition Leader Tim Mander and the Local Government Association of Queensland have thrown support behind fluoridation.

It's time for the state to take back control.

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Originally published as Why state should conquer councils and take fluoride control