Cook Shire elected members vote 4-3 to discontinue the addition of fluoride to Cooktown’s water supply in front of a packed public gallery on 25 February. Photo: Cape York Weekly.
Cooktown’s water supply will no longer have fluoride added to it by the end of the month after councillors opposed to continuing the practice won a narrow vote in front of a packed public gallery on 25 February.
Almost 50 community members, the majority of whom were calling for water fluoridation to be scrapped, were in the Cook Shire Council chamber to watch the debate and vote, which was the headline agenda item for the ordinary meeting.
The meeting commenced with deputations for and against the continuation of water fluoridation from the Cook Shire Residents and Ratepayers Association (CSRRA) and Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service (TCHHS).
Lee House of Stapleton, speaking for CSRRA, said the group believed the council did not have informed consent to fluoridate Cooktown’s water supply on the grounds it represented mass medication and a human rights violation, and alleged the media had not provided balanced coverage of the debate.
“This and other research has received little coverage in mainstream news outlets, leaving the broad public, journalists and professionals missing incredibly important information and context,” she said.
Dr Natasha Coventry and Dr Desmond Hill spoke in favour of ongoing fluoridation, arguing it was “not medication” and acknowledging in a utopian “ideal world”, the practice would not be required.
When the seven elected members commenced their debate, Councillor Gavin Dear thanked the deputations and public gallery before outlining why he believed fluoride should no longer be added to the town’s reticulated water.
“This is UFC, non-contact democracy in action,” he said.
“It’s wonderful that everyone so passionate about this.”
Deputy Mayor Marilyn Morris speaks during debate to explain to councillors and the public gallery why she will be voting for Cook Shire Council to discontinue the fluoridation of Cooktown’s water supply. Photo: Cape York Weekly.
Speaking against fluoridation, Cr Ross Logan noted a “general degree of apathy” among many of the community members he had spoken to.
Mayor Robyn Holmes voted in favour of continuing fluoridation but said she was disappointed such a decision fell on elected members, rather than the State Government, which oversees the provision of health services in Queensland.
“Irrespective of today’s decision, I believe the subject is a health matter, and the verdict should be the responsibility of the Queensland Government,” she said.
Cr Melinda Parker told the meeting while she acknowledged there were some benefits in terms of dental health, she wanted to see an end to fluoridation, saying she believed it posed an “unacceptable level of risk”.
“[I]t’s our responsibility as council to treat water to make it safe for drinking and fluoride, in my opinion, is to treat the people, as opposed to treating the water to make it safe,” she said.
At the conclusion of the debate, councillors voted 3-4 against chief executive officer Brian Joiner’s recommendation to continue fluoridating Cooktown’s water supply, a decision that drew jubilant, raucous applause from the public gallery.
Cr Justin Coventry then moved an alternative motion, seconded by Cr Logan, that the council stop adding fluoride to the reticulated water, which was resolved with a 4-3 vote.
Following the vote, Mayor Holmes said councillors and the community needed to “respect the democratic process” in regard to the decision.
Fluoride will stop being added to Cooktown’s water supply on 28 March, following the council taking the legislated steps to do so.
How councillors voted on fluoride
AGAINST: Deputy Mayor Marilyn Morris, Councillor Gavin Dear, Cr Ross Logan, Cr Melinda Parker
FOR: Mayor Robyn Holmes, Cr Sarah Martin, Cr Justin Coventry
Nearly 50 Cooktown community members filled the Cook Shire Council chamber last Tuesday morning to watch elected members vote whether fluoride should remain in the town’s water supply. Photo: Cape York Weekly.
