Page 1795 - Week 09 - Wednesday, 18 October 1989
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
Mr Prowse: I could not agree more; wonderful idea.
MR BERRY: I refer to the lecture by Professor Graham Craig in which he produced evidence from the 1987-88 Australian national oral health survey which shows a massive difference in the dental health in the two cities. I am sure that the inquiry will look at that and make an objective assessment of all of the issues. (Extension of time granted)
I close by just saying again that it is in the interests of this Government and it is in the interests of all members of this Assembly that we maintain the credibility of this house as a government for the people of the ACT.
Mr Stevenson: That's good news.
MR BERRY: The interjection from the "A for Abolish" member, as usual, does not have much regard for proper government, but the fact of the matter is that this Assembly is bound to provide responsible government for the people of the ACT. As a follow-up of the election, where we were proving the credibility of the Government, there have been many during the fluoride debate who have been wandering around shaking their heads and mumbling again about self-government. This is principally because of the way that the fluoride legislation was bullied through this house. A great lesson has been learnt by members of the Assembly, and I would hope that in the future the credibility of this house can be enhanced by responsible decision making.
MR WHALAN (Minister for Industry, Employment and Education) (12.10): Mr Speaker, this Bill today seeks to temporarily - and I must emphasise, of course, temporarily - reverse a decision in the form of legislation in relation to fluoride which has held up to national ridicule this Assembly, the ACT, and specifically the concept of self-government. We must realise that the two principal advocates of this legislation, Mr Stevenson and Mr Prowse, have no compunction whatsoever about the concept of self-government being held up to ridicule. What surprises me, however, is the extent of support that they received in their campaign, when people were warned about the inevitable consequence of that decision, and that was that this self-government for the ACT would indeed be held up to ridicule. One has only to look at a sample of some of the media coverage of that decision to realise the extent of the damage which has been done.
Today's decision will be beneficial in relation to the health of the children who will benefit for the six months or eight months that today's Bill will be in force. It will be beneficial to those children, and hopefully the correct decision will be made eventually, which will be to restore fluoride permanently to the water supply. But nothing can be done to repair the damage done to the reputation of the ACT, the reputation of this house of Assembly and to the whole concept of self-government.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .