Page 1553 - Week 08 - Wednesday, 27 September 1989
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The arguments fall into three categories. We heard the arguments one way, in respect of the benefits, this morning, and I must say that they were incomplete and, to me at least, not fully convincing. We heard the arguments on the ill effects of fluoride. I must say that the anecdotal evidence that I hear is more convincing than what I heard this morning about the ill effects of fluoride. Then we heard the question of civil liberties, and I must say that that argument was equally unconvincing.
Mr Stevenson: Enforced medication.
MR BERRY: You had your turn and you will get another turn, Mr Stevenson, to have a say on this issue and you will be able to express again those views that we have heard ad nauseam. The proponents of this amendment do not necessarily agree on all of these issues and in fact all three areas are contentious. It is an unholy alliance of issues, but the thing which is of most importance to the people of Canberra and to the members of this Assembly is that the matter be properly exposed to public scrutiny through the appropriate Assembly standing committee, and that is, as I have moved in my motion, the Social Policy Committee. I urge members here to reconsider the position that they have taken in relation to the passage of this Bill and hold it up for a short time while that Social Policy Committee considers the matter and gives us an air of responsibility in government.
MR WHALAN (Minister for Industry, Employment and Education) (4.03): In support of this motion that has been so appropriately raised by the Minister responsible for health matters in the ACT, I would like to raise a number of questions as to why people who are supporting the bulldozing of this legislation through the Assembly are afraid to have it referred to a committee. There is something fundamentally wrong with these people who are afraid to have their claims examined by an appropriate policy committee.
What has happened during the debate this afternoon is that there has been a very clear demonstration of the fact that there are many issues which cannot be adequately addressed across this room. Many of those are of a highly technical nature, many of them relate to health matters, which should be more appropriately the subject of advice from technically skilled people. There are people who are supporting the bulldozing of this legislation and who are accusing others of us. We know that there has been a substantial caucusing to ensure that the numbers are there. As Mr Prowse has said from the floor of this chamber, "I have the numbers to push this through".
Those of us who are trying to have a debate raised on it today are being accused of wasting time. Those of us who are trying to defend the health of the children of the ACT are being so accused by the Residents Rally. Michael Moore at this moment is alleging that we are wasting time by
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