Councillor to put Bligh on notice

Cr Glenda Mather

PREMIER Anna Bligh will face some tricky questions tomorrow. And campaigning councillor Glenda Mather is determined to make her squirm.

If she gets the chance during the public question and answer session, Cr Mather plans to put the Premier on the spot over a pledge she allegedly made to provide financial compensation to anyone who suffers ill health as a result of adding compulsory fluoride to the water supply.

“I want to ask her if she accepts she signed such a pledge and if she will honour the agreement,” said Cr Mather yesterday.

The Rockhampton Regional Council member fought in vain to resist compulsory fluoridation, but she refuses to accept that the fight is over.

“There are people within this community who are suffering medical conditions which are either caused, or compounded by fluoride in the town supply,” she said.

“They are either forced to purchase bottled water for drinking and cooking purposes, or install domestic water filtration systems which require on-going maintenance.

“Many of these are pensioners who can ill-afford this unnecessary and expensive means to avoid pain caused by damage to their health.

“These ratepayers pay for their Council-supplied water, with additional costs for on-going fluoride dousing, plus their bottled water, plus their water filtration systems and future maintenance.

“I want a commitment from the Premier that she will honour her promise to “accept full liability and provide financial compensation” to those affected persons.”

Cr Mather said she will ask Ms Bligh to admit fluoridation was an error of judgement and to have the whole program suspended.

“There is an overwhelming resentment in this region, but pleas have so far fallen on deaf ears.

“Fluoride is causing people to suffer and is costing so much money.”

She said state-wide compulsory implementation of the scheme had cost more than $30 million so far.

Protests could foil Cabinet meeting

EMU Park residents are concerned this weekend’s Community Cabinet meeting will be “derailed” due to the busloads of union members coming to town to ambush Premier Anna Bligh.

Resident and business owner Terry Rowland yesterday said locals were worried the meeting would become more of a “cabinet bashing” as union groups protest the Queensland asset sell-off.

Mr Rowland said he thought residents wouldn’t get the opportunity to voice their concerns.

“Basically they (residents) are not going to get a chance to air their views,” he said.

“I have been to union meetings and you can certainly derail something quickly.

“They (union members) do it on purpose, they want to make a point and be heard and the more coverage they can get the better.”

Mr Rowland said the protesters had ruined the chance of Bligh and the cabinet ministers taking a stroll through the town.

“I’m a bit concerned they will be bussed in and bussed out, that is a shame,” he said.

“It would be good if they could just come in and say ‘G’day’, I’m quite happy to welcome them and have a chinwag and show them around the town.”

The Rail, Tram and Bus Union has been taking out advertisements in The Morning Bulletin to encourage people to join the protest, offering free buses from Gladstone and Emerald.

The buses have been organised to cart what is expected to be over a hundred protesters to Emu Park, with organiser Craig Allen this week promising Bligh would receive a “robust reception”.

He said their objective was “quite clear”.

“We will meet the Premier and all the cabinet ministers on their arrival and we will be voicing our concerns loudly outside when they arrive,” he said.

“We will also seek for the Premier and all cabinet ministers to take the time out to talk to us.

“They need to now be honest with the people of Queensland and say that they got it wrong, and we will be calling on the Premier and treasurer and government ministers to put a hold on the selling of the rest of the government assets until such time that they have had a comprehensive look at the finances.”

Mr Rowland said he would use the free time to mention issues relating to the town centre, like the completion of the CBD upgrade and the IGA supermarket at the cabinet meeting.

We will meet the Premier and all the cabinet ministers on their arrival and we will be voicing our concerns loudly