Page 2832 - Week 10 - Wednesday, 14 August 1991
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
something wrong somewhere. If we cease to base important social actions on argument with our fellow man and cease to accept each our individual share of responsibility - even in the matter of our children's teeth - we are merely proving that Kruschev's contempt for a free society is thoroughly deserved, and we may as well resign ourselves to being more than symbolically clubbed on the head with his shoe.
I think the matter has been put well there. Why would the Labor Party suggest the removal of the right of citizens of the ACT to decide whether or not they should be drugged with fluoride? Is that not a reasonable thing for the people of Canberra to have a say on? Is it because the Labor Party, in their wisdom, have decided, for whatever reason, "We know better; we know, in the grand scheme of things" - whatever their grand scheme is - "what we intend to do. The people should be prevented from having a say"? What this Bill does is prevent the people of Canberra from having their say, because it removes the right, introduced by Mr Prowse - I commend him for that - and voted for by other members in this Assembly, for there to be a referendum.
Mr Berry: We never did.
MR STEVENSON: Mr Berry says, "We never did". Indeed, they never did. When more and more people in Canberra find out that the Labor Party is opposed to the people of Canberra having a say on fluoride and on other important issues, they will realise that the agenda of the Labor Party is not one of consultation, is not one of honouring their constitutional obligation to follow the will of the people, but is one of following their own policies for their own reasons.
I think it is worthwhile to mention Dr Francis Bull, an early and well-named advocate and proponent of fluoride in America. He used to be paid to go around and lecture to various organisations, dentists in particular, telling them how to push fluoride. At the US State Dental Directors Conference in 1951 he made a very telling statement.
Mr Berry: You do not have to read the whole dissenting report. We have all had a look at it, Dennis. Do not read it any more.
MR STEVENSON: As we said yesterday, Mr Berry, you have not read it yet, and most other people in this Assembly - - -
MR DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! Perhaps, Mr Stevenson, you would direct your attention to the amendment. I think we are talking about half a part per million, rather than having an in-principle debate.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .