News Archive

A PAINSTAKING debate on whether Mackay’s water supply should continue to be fluoridated will begin in coming weeks, says Mackay Regional Council mayor Greg Williamson. For now, getting the council’s budget out of the way will be the number one priority for recently elected councillors. “Fluoride in Queensland, not just Mackay, has been on again, […]

A Wodonga dentist has called for an expansion of fluoridation after tooth decay rates in the Murray Primary Health Network were revealed as worse than the Victorian state average. Statistics from Dental Health Services Victoria on clients presenting at public dental health clinics showed decay was worse in every age group except those aged over 65. More than 65 per […]

“THERE is something fundamentally disturbing about a government putting additives in the water supply”. That’s the opinion expressed by Mackay mayor Greg Williamson before the March, 2016 council election. But Cr Williamson also said fluoridation was proven to significantly reduce caries (cavities) in children and adults. Currently, the Mackay region’s water is fluoridated by Mackay […]

LOCAL councils will continue to have the power to decide if fluoride is put in their water supply, the State Government announced this week. Mayor Matt Burnett says it’s an issue “highly likely” to come before his new council soon. And he said, while he thinks it should be a state issue, once a vote […]

Queensland Health Minister Cameron Dick responded to a petition presented to Parliament earlier this year calling for the State Government to mandate fluoridation of the state’s water supply. “The Government recognises that water fluoridation is a safe and effective means of preventing tooth decay for people of all ages,” Mr Dick said in his response. […]

ANTI-FLUORIDE campaigners have warned the State Government it will have a serious fight on its hands if it ­decides to mandate water ­fluoridation in the Far North. A petition started by a Hervey Bay activist has called on the government to resume the mandate and State control of fluoridation in Queensland. The petition, which started […]

ADDING fluoride to the Cairns water supply is back on the table after a city councillor hijacked an innocuous agenda item to put the issue front and centre at the first meeting of the newly-elected Cairns Regional Council. Division 5 Councillor Richie Bates raised the fluoride issue in the council’s ordinary meeting yesterday to the […]

A NATIONAL oral health plan supporting fluoridation in water could put pressure on Cairns Regional Council to reintroduce fluoride to the city’s water supply. Council made the decision to remove the chemical – which dentists say protects teeth from decay – in 2012. Australia’s National Oral Health Plan for 2015-2024 ­reports its top strategy is […]

TASMANIAN dentists are pushing for greater fluoridation of water in rural communities to combat the state’s poor oral health. Dental experts are also concerned the growing trend of drinking bottled water is denying children fluoride and leading to a rise in tooth decay. According to data from TasWater, 36 towns do not have fluoridated water […]