SIX national health bodies have come together to promote the benefits of water fluoridation and to oppose the recent decision of the Queensland Government to permit Local Councils to decide whether or not to add fluoride to their water supplies.

Tomorrow’s Council of Australian Governments (COAG) meeting is an opportunity for the Commonwealth to make its view and intentions on the matter clear, and for Governments to call for a consistent national approach.

The six peak bodies are concerned both for the health of individuals and also that broader public health activities are being undermined.

World Health Authorities, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, the Australian Dental Association and the Australian Medical Association recognise the benefits to dental health from fluoridation of water supplies.

The six peak organisations joining their voices on this issue are the Public Health Association of Australia (PHAA), the Australian Dental Association Inc (ADA), the Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association (AHHA), the Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS), the National Rural Health Alliance (NRHA) and the Australian Health Care Reform Alliance (AHCRA).

They see the decision of some Local Councils to discontinue water fluoridation as a failure to protect the public’s oral health, and the cost will be paid by the individual and the taxpayer.

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