Fluoridation of Public Water Supplies Act 1957 (NSW)

Fluoridation of Public Water Supplies Act 1957 No 58

An Act to authorise and control the addition of fluorine to public water supplies; and for purposes connected therewith.

1 Name of Act and commencement (1) This Act may be cited as the Fluoridation of Public Water Supplies Act 1957. (2) This Act shall commence upon a day to be appointed by the Governor and notified by proclamation published in the Gazette.

2 Crown bound This Act binds the Crown.

3 Definitions In this Act, unless the context or subject matter otherwise indicates or requires— Committee means the Fluoridation of Public Water Supplies Advisory Committee constituted under this Act. Fluorine includes any compound of fluorine. Prescribed means prescribed by this Act or regulations. Public water supply means any water supply used for supplying water to the public. Regulations means regulations made under this Act. Secretary means the Secretary of the Department of Health. Water supply authority means any person or body, corporate or unincorporate, who or which supplies water to the public.

4 Fluoridation of Public Water Supplies Advisory Committee (1) For the purposes of this Act there shall be constituted a Committee, to be called the Fluoridation of Public Water Supplies Advisory Committee, which shall consist of six persons. (2) The members of the Committee shall be— (a) a person nominated by the Minister, being an officer of the Department of Health or an employee of a public health organisation within the meaning of the Health Services Act 1997, and (b) five persons (in this section referred to as appointed members) appointed by the Minister. Of the members so appointed— (i) one shall be appointed from a panel of names submitted by the Australian Medical Association (NSW) Limited, (ii) one shall be appointed from a panel of names submitted by the Australian Dental Association (New South Wales Branch), (iii) one shall be appointed from a panel of names submitted by the Institution of Engineers (Australia), (iv) one shall be appointed from a panel of names submitted by the Local Government and Shires Association of New South Wales, and (v) one shall be appointed by the Minister after consultation with such persons or bodies, corporate or unincorporate as the Minister thinks fit. (3) (a) The member referred to in paragraph (a) of subsection (2) shall be chairperson of the Committee. (b) The chairperson shall preside at all meetings of the Committee at which the chairperson is present. In the absence of the chairperson from any meeting the members present shall appoint one of their number to preside at that meeting. (4) (a) The procedure for the calling of meetings of the Committee and for the conduct of business at such meetings shall, subject to any regulations in relation thereto and to this Act, be as determined by the Committee. (b) At any meeting of the Committee three members shall form a quorum, and the decision of the majority of the members present at any meeting at which there is a quorum shall be the decision of the Committee. (c) The chairperson or member presiding at any meeting of the Committee shall have a deliberative vote and, in the event of an equality of votes, a second or casting vote. (5) The appointed members shall hold office for a period of three years and shall be eligible for reappointment. (6) If a casual vacancy occurs in the office of an appointed member, a member shall be appointed by the Minister to fill the vacant office and shall hold office for the balance of the predecessor's term of office. (7) The Minister may from time to time appoint a deputy to act in the place of any appointed member during the illness or absence of such appointed member. (8) The Minister may, for any cause which to the Minister seems sufficient, remove any member or deputy member from office. (9) A member, or a deputy member while acting in the place of a member, is entitled to be paid such remuneration (including travelling and subsistence allowances) as the Minister may from time to time determine in respect of the member or deputy member.