New South Wales Greens Call For Public Inquiry Into Water Fluoridation
The New South Wales Green Party is calling for a public inquiry into water fluoridation after a court of appeal rejected a case against it. The court rejected a bid from an anti-fluoride campaigner to stop plans to add fluoride to the water in several communities within the state.
The court made a unanimous decision to allow Ballina Shire Council to proceed with plans to add fluoride to the water in five water processing plants in the region. The New South Wales Department of Health had instructed the council to add fluoride to the water supplies in Lismore,Richmond Valley and Ballina, but the decision was appealed by Al Oshlack, an anti-fluoride campaigner. Oshlack took legal action in 2012 to try and prevent water fluoridation in the area. However, his appeal was rejected and he has since been ordered to pay legal costs on behalf of the council, which are estimated to be around $500,000.
Since the decision was made by the court, the Greens have called for a public inquiry into water fluoridation. The Greens believe that the inquiry is necessary to show the benefits of water fluoridation. Water fluoridation has been supported by the State Government since 1975.
MP John Kaye, from the NSW Greens, said that a public inquiry would help those who are worried about water fluoridation in their community to understand why fluoridation is beneficial.
Mr Kaye said that peer-reviewed evidence suggests that there are no harmful health implications of water fluoridation. However, some have concerns about the potential impacts of fluoride in the water supplies and the inquiry would help to reassure them.
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