News Archive

Townsville will be the only major Queensland regional centre outside the south-east to fluoridate its water, after Mackay voted narrowly today to stop adding fluoride to its drinking supply, following the same decision by Gladstone in July. The issue was a divisive one for the Mackay Regional Council with six councillors voting to end fluoridation […]

Cairns councillors have turned down the chance to hear from dental experts regarding water fluoridation at an ordinary meeting this week. Division Five Councillor Richie Bates proposed James Cook University’s dental faculty present fluoridation research via resolution to full council on Wednesday. But none of the other eight councillors seconded the motion causing it to […]

BREAKING 11.29am: FLUORIDATION of Mackay’s water supply will be stopped, following a landmark decision by Mackay Regional Council [population 123,724 as of 2015]. In front of a packed gallery, Mackay Regional councillors voted to stop putting fluoride in Mackay’s water supply in a 6-5 vote. So who voted to remove it? Mayor Greg Williamson Deputy mayor […]

MACKAY Regional Council will decide on the future of water fluoridation in the region in just over a week. The council issued a statement this morning, confirming the vote will be decided at its next monthly Ordinary Meeting on September 28. Meanwhile, the council has reminded residents time is running out for them to have […]

Water fluoridation opponents plan to present the West Australian government with a petition calling for an end to the practice, coinciding with new research reinforcing its benefit for children’s oral health. Fluoride Free WA – which plans to form a political party for the March state election and currently has more than half the members […]

Australia’s chief health and medical research agency says fluoride in drinking water does not lower a person’s IQ, cause cancer or cause any other negative health effects. The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) analysis of more than 60 years of scientific research and 3,000 studies has backed adding fluoride to public drinking supplies […]

The fluoride debate in Mackay has hotted up in the lead-up to a community forum to test public support for leaving fluoride in the region’s water supply. An overnight discussion on the Daily Mercury’s Facebook site confirmed the passion around the issue. It comes as a community forum will be held Wednesday, September 14, at […]

FLUORIDATED drinking water will flow into Yanchep in 2017, with supplies potentially starting this summer. Department of Health water unit manager Richard Theobald said Yanchep had not yet received fluoridated water, as its current supply came from a local bore source not linked to the main metropolitan supply. “The Fluoridation Of Public Water Supplies Advisory […]

The candidates for Bega Valley Shire Council have plenty to say on community consultation, but don’t ask them about fluoride. On Wednesday night, the Bega District News co-hosted a public forum at Club Sapphire, Merimbula, ahead of the coming local government election. Around 200 people came out on the night to ask questions of candidates – with only a couple […]

The deep divide in the community over water fluoridation has been reflected in replies to a questionnaire from Fluoride Free Northern Rivers to all Lismore City Council mayoral candidates. Each candidate received a score from 1 to 6 on how they would vote if motions were put forward on a range of fluoride issues in the […]