PFAS still in use as compensation settlement reached

A landmark compensation agreement has been reached on the contamination of properties by toxic firefighting chemicals — but there’s a reason concerns persist.

THOUSANDS of families living on properties contaminated by defence firefighting chemicals reached a landmark compensation agreement yesterday, even as it can be revealed bases around the country continue using the toxic foam.

Three communities, including Oakey on the Darling Downs, launched class actions seeking damages for massive losses in property values and business prospects after their groundwater was contaminated.

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The groups yesterday agreed to a confidential in-principle agreement with the Federal Government that will go to the Federal Court for final approval.

But the The Courier-Mail can reveal the Australian Defence Force is still using firefighting chemicals containing the toxic chemical at most bases.

A defence spokeswoman confirmed officials only expected to identify a suitable replacement foam by mid-2020, despite committing 15 years ago to phase out the foam.

By 2010, all Australian civilian airports had switched to firefighting foams free of PFAS, which does not break down in the environment and has contaminated hundreds of sites around Australia.

Health Department officials earlier this week said there was no conclusive proof linking it to human diseases but acknowledged increasing confidence that high exposure levels led to some biological effects.

In 2004, the ADF switched from 3M Light Water to Ansulite for “emergency situations where human life is at risk, or in controlled environments to test equipment”.

Ansulite was later found to contain traces of PFAS.

Signs of resident unrest in a PFAS-affected community

The defence spokeswoman said PFAS-free foams were used for training exercises.

“Defence will continue to implement a range of measures to address environmental risks associated with the ongoing use of all types of firefighting foam products such as the capture and treatment of waste water,” she said.

Member for Blair Shayne Neumann, whose electorate includes the RAAF base at Amberley, where contamination has been confirmed, said he was “very concerned” toxic foams were still being used.

“The Defence Department has consistently played down the significance of the contamination around the RAAF base at Amberley and elsewhere,” he said.

Residents living near Defence properties at Williamtown, NSW, and Katherine, Northern Territory, joined the Oakey community in the class actions.

Lawyer Ben Allen, from Dentons, said the agreement did not mark an end to the battle for the “forever chemical” to be cleaned up in Australia.

“The comments from the Australian Government … show that the Government will now take their responsibilities seriously and are committed to engaging with those impacted by PFAS contamination in Australia,” he said.