Page 2705 - Week 10 - Tuesday, 13 August 1991
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fluoride be added? The Government has presented its Bill to add fluoride at one part per million on a permanent basis. Although I agree with the permanent addition of fluoride to the water supply, I would argue that the level should be 0.5 parts per million. The committee recommended that level as the lowest level of maximum effect, and I stress that this was not a decision of compromise, as Dr Kinloch has already said. This recommendation was supported unanimously and arose from the research and evidence presented to the committee.
Since 1964, when fluoride was introduced, the sources of it have increased - for example, fluoridated toothpaste, reconstituted dried foods and drinks, the increase in bottle-fed babies and also its topical applications. Therefore, the level of fluoride ingested has also increased. Reducing the level of fluoride to 0.5 parts per million would counteract this increase. This argument has been supported by Ms Alison Hill and Professor Douglas, who conducted a study at the ANU National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, to which Dr Kinloch has already referred. May I add that Professor Douglas was also on the NHMRC committee to which the Government refers in its response.
With regard to research, Mr Deputy Speaker, I think the ACT is in a fortunate situation in that it has the unique opportunity to carry out comprehensive research in this field. Moreover, there would be greater scope for research if the level were to be reduced to 0.5 parts per million. I might add, as Dr Kinloch has pointed out, that one of the issues arising from the inquiry, which has also been endorsed by the NHMRC, was the fact that there was a lack of Australian research into water fluoridation. As I said in my speech of 12 February this year, the ACT could become a world leader in this field. I would urge the Government and other members to support Dr Kinloch's proposed amendment to the Bill, therefore supporting the committee's recommendation that "the concentration of fluoride in the ACT water supply be reduced to 0.5 parts per million". I agree also with the recommendation to seek funding for a major study, which Mr Humphries read out earlier and which is on page 102 of the report.
Mr Deputy Speaker, I would like to conclude by saying that being a member of the committee that inquired into water fluoridation in the ACT was not the easiest task that I have undertaken since I have been in this Assembly. The committee members participated in hours of discussions, both private and public, and received mountains of information, much of which was of a technical nature. I believe that the recommendations in the report were made out of genuine concern for the community, and I adhere to those recommendations.
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