It was with mixed feelings that I watched tonight’s (Tuesday, 21 October) edition of the 7.30 Report.
A shortish segment aired the controversial decision of the Gympie Council to cease fluoridation of the water supply.
Sadly, the interview gave little attention to the way the decision was taken— by a handful of uninformed Councillors without any consultation with the community they represent and whose dental health is at stake.
Surely that constitutes a reckless abuse of power?
Cr Jensen remarked that the decision would revive the ‘Helltown’ reputation from which Gympie suffered a couple of decades ago.
She is probably right.
It certainly smacks of the hill-billy mentality publicly pilloried at that time.
The only qualified commentators on the ABC segment were experienced and highly regarded local dentist Paul Dixon and another dental expert.
Both stated the benefits of fluoridation to dental health.
It was disappointing that Mayor Hartwig, who voted to cease fluoridation, did not participate in the ABC interview.
It was left to rookie Councillor Lahn, who had moved the cessation motion, to justify Council’s high-handed and possibly ill-judged decision.
Predictably, the task was beyond her.
She claimed that there was scientific evidence against fluoridation of water, but she was typically vague about her sources.
I think she even suggested that most people wouldn’t know whether their water was fluoridated or not.
Or was it that they would not care?
She certainly failed to justify the decision of the Council.
But she probably threw a retrospective, unflattering light on the level of debate that ‘informed’ the far-reaching decision.
Cr Jensen had the last say, pointing out that Council’s main responsibilities are Roads, Rates and Rubbish and that community health is a matter for the State.
And that is the heart of the matter.
It is entirely improper that a few uninformed and possibly prejudiced Councillors should be making a decision that will affect community health for generations.
– Merv Welch,
The Palms.
