Page 2039 - Week 10 - Wednesday, 25 October 1989
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It also mentions that it is our right to live our lives free from unwanted bodily interference. Some people are of the firm conviction that there is no problem at all with sodium fluoride, and I can understand that. I do not say that that is not possible. Of course it is.
Let us have a look at what sodium fluoride is. You will probably never have seen one of these. It is Sweeney's sodium fluoride roach killer. It says it kills roaches, crickets, water-bugs and silverfish. It has got a warning on it. In red it says, "Keep out of reach of children". It has got "Ingredients: active ingredient, sodium fluoride 40 per cent, inactive ingredients, 60 per cent". On the back it says, "Statement of practical treatment if swallowed", and goes to talk about how to induce vomiting, et cetera. It has got a precautionary statement saying, "Hazardous to humans and domestic animals". It has got a warning on it. It says, "Warning", again, "May be fatal if swallowed. Do not breathe dust, do not get into eyes, on skin or on clothing. Wash thoroughly after handling. Keep away from children and domestic animals. Directions for use: It is a violation of Federal law to use this product in a manner inconsistent with its labelling. Clean up thoroughly all garbage and food particles which attract roaches. Sprinkle sodium fluoride in the cracks" et cetera, "Do not reuse empty container. Wrap in newspaper and discard in trash".
These are not, so far as I know, sold any more, but these were very well known and well used. In this Assembly Robyn Nolan told me that when she was on the farm her dad, like a lot of other farmers throughout Australia, used to sprinkle sodium fluoride. It was commonly used extensively as a rat poison; it is a rodenticide and is listed in medical dictionaries.
One can say quite fairly that it does depend on the amount of something you take, and that is true. But it also depends on how toxic something is, and this I think we all understand is not an ordinary toxic level. It is an extremely toxic poison that can build up in the system. It is acknowledged by medical practitioners, I would feel fairly certain - certainly in the World Health Organisation - that sodium fluoride accumulates in the body, not only in the bones but in the soft tissues. That was in its 1970 monograph on fluoride and public health.
So what we have is something that is added to the water supply. We have made that decision and we live with that decision. But people who do not want to be forced to abide by the decision of this Assembly should have the freedom of choice, they should have the right, and I find it surprising that we should need to debate this. I think these things are fairly obvious. They should have that right not to be forced to take this particular chemical in their water supply, though a number of us might think it is a good idea.
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