WATER FLUORIDATION

The Hon. A. BRESSINGTON (14:56): My questions are to the minister representing the Minister for Water and relate to sodium fluoride. Can the minister provide an explanation of the scientific processes that show that the concentration of one part per million of sodium fluoride is a safe level for human consumption, and who was responsible for determining this?

Can the minister provide the council with the documentation showing that sodium fluoride has been evaluated and approved as safe for human consumption? Given that dentists and doctors once advocated that smoking was beneficial for health, is it not possible that they have also got it wrong about artificial fluoridation? Can the minister provide the council with any briefs submitted to him by the Department of Health on water fluoridation?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for State/Local Government Relations, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Government Enterprises, Minister for the City of Adelaide) (14:57): I thank the honourable member for her questions and will refer them to the Minister for Water in another place and bring back a response.