Health minister hopes to persuade 15 local authorities to change their minds on fluoridation, but won’t force them
The New South Wales government is offering a $7.5m incentive that it hopes will persuade recalcitrant councils to fluoridate their drinking water.
But the state health minister, Jillian Skinner, said the government would not support a Labor bill that would give state authorities power to force local councils to put the tooth-strengthening chemical in their drinking water.
The government wanted to support councils in making their own decisions, rather than take a “big stick” approach.
“It is for this reason we are boosting our infrastructure support for councils who have avoided fluoridation to encourage them to deliver this vital service to the community,” Skinner said.
The minister says the funds are aimed at encouraging those councils to reverse their decisions.
Last week, Lismore council overturned a ban on fluoride after seven years of lobbying by local health professionals. However, there are still 15 council areas across the state that don’t fluoridate their water, the government says.
Councils can currently choose not to add the dental health booster to their water supplies, with several recent attempts by councils to block fluoridation.
A bill introduced into NSW parliament this month by opposition health spokesman Andrew McDonald would give the government power to mandate fluoridation in council public water supplies.
Skinner on Wednesday said the government wouldn’t support the proposed legislation.
“Recent outcomes have shown that with education and information, local councils are able to make informed decisions about fluoridation,” she said in a statement.
Source: The guardian.com