Page 1770 - Week 09 - Wednesday, 18 October 1989
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
the water or to leave it in. That is a matter that has to be determined in the future, and arrangements are in place for that determination to be made. Our error lies not in the question that was inherent in that Bill but in the process by which we enacted it.
In retrospect, we neglected the fact that this Bill directly affects not only the 270,000-odd people who live in Canberra but also other people who are beyond the jurisdiction of this Assembly and who under no circumstances could have had any input to the decision. So I believe it is time for the Assembly to take stock, to accept the fact that an error was made, to allow a proper inquiry into this matter to take place, and to allow technical evidence both for and against the question of fluoride to be presented and be properly considered over a reasonable period of time. Finally, the 270,000-odd residents in Canberra should be given an opportunity to express their view as to whether they want fluoride to remain in the water or not.
It is too significant a matter to be decided by the members of this Assembly, either in totality or in part. Without that proper investigation and that proper consultation with the community as to what their wishes are, it may well be that we will need to put a report date on Mr Wood's committee, which is a consequential measure to the Bill that I am now putting to the house. At the moment, it is an open reference with no report date. We will need to follow up and set a report date. When Mr Wood's committee reports, I expect that this house will then have all of the information that it needs to make a reasoned and proper decision on the technical and medical aspects of the subject, and it will allow members of the community to express their views. Up until now, we have denied them the opportunity to do so.
I do not think that anything more needs to be said on this subject. In summary, we made an error in putting this Bill into effect so quickly. We made an error in doing it without consulting the people who are directly concerned by it. I think it is proper that we reverse that decision and we put into place this Bill, which will have the effect of suspending the operation of our previous Bill for a reasonable period of time to allow a proper inquiry to be conducted. I commend the Bill to the house.
I seek leave to present the explanatory memorandum to the Bill.
Leave granted.
Declaration of Urgency
MR WHALAN (Deputy Chief Minister) (10.37): I declare the Water Supply (Chemical Treatment) Bill 1989 an urgent Bill.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .