Page 575 - Week 02 - Thursday, 21 February 1991
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The idea that I can seek to bring the matter on at any time I wish is basically not worth talking about. Mr Humphries knows full well that reason does not necessarily apply when one tries to get something done in this Assembly. What I ask is that we allow sufficient time; and the end of April is sufficient time. I ask all members to make a commitment to do what needs to be done in that time.
If we feel that the people of Canberra are not aware of the matter, then we can go and see the people we know in the media and make sure that we get the point across. Now is the time for the public to have a say in what they want done. I think it is worthwhile to again make the point that the public has had a mighty say within the fluoride committee. There were 141 submissions saying, "No, we do not want compulsory fluoridation". There were 18 saying, "We do".
Mr Humphries shakes his head. I agree that it is amazing that so many people - such a large percentage - are concerned about being forced to take medication. What would the Minister for Health think if I told him - for his own health - and I have studied it for many years - - -
Mr Humphries: You have studied my health? It must be an interesting subject.
MR STEVENSON: I have studied health. I have not studied the Minister's health. What would he think if I or someone else said, "Mr Humphries, when you take that glass of water that you are just about to take, you should also take a drug at the same time"? What would you think of that? What would you think if I said that you should take your fluoride in pill form? Would you agree with that if I said that every time you had a glass of water - or every time you ate at a restaurant where there were foods such as rice, pasta and other things that required a particularly large amount of water for cooking - you needed to take a fluoride pill? What would you think?
Mr Humphries: I do not know.
MR STEVENSON: Mr Humphries does not know. I think that most people in this Assembly, and certainly the vast majority of people in Canberra, would say, "Listen, I am not going to be forced by any government - by any group of politicians - to take pills that contain drugs, against my will". What is the difference between putting the sodium silico-fluoride in a pill and taking it straight from a bag that has the word "Poison" on it and dumping it in our water supply? The principle is exactly the same. There is not one whit of difference. Some people, unfortunately, are prepared to ignore the evidence.
It is said, in the case of fluoride, "If there is a reasonable doubt, keep it out". That makes sense. If you are not sure about thalidomide, you would not force it on people. If you are not sure about DDT, you would not force
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