A PUBLIC forum in Brisbane to debate water fluoridation is expected to attract hundreds of people on Tuesday. But both the Brisbane City Council and the Australian Medical Association will snub the event.

An international expert on the issue will attend and has challenged medical and dental bodies to provide a representative to debate the pros and cons.

Professionals Against Water Fluoridation chairman and forum organiser Dr John Ryan said he expected the event to attract hundreds of citizens.

“It’s a public health issue and the public deserve to know all the facts,” he said. “We’re happy to have a debate so both sides are put forward.

“We’re confident we can win any well-organised, structured debate on the matter.”

Fluoride expert Dr Paul Connett, who will address the forum, is a professor of chemistry in New York and has spoken on fluoride issues throughout the world. “This is a chance for people to research the topic for themselves,” he said.

A spokesman for Lord Mayor Campbell Newman said the council encouraged debate on the issue but stopped short of committing a representative to attend.

Australian Medical Association Queensland president Dr David Molloy said the AMA would not attend. “We’re not prepared to stand alongside them and see children’s teeth damaged because of a hysterical and untruthful public campaign.”

The free forum will be held on Tuesday at St Joseph’s College, 285 Gregory Terrace, Spring Hill, at 7pm.

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