Federal Govt agrees to settle PFAS class actions, including one brought by Katherine community

THE Federal Government has agreed to settle three class actions, including one brought by the Katherine community, launched over groundwater contamination caused by chemicals used in firefighting foam at defence bases

Testing being carried out for PFAS contamination before the class actions were heard. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

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THE Federal Government has agreed to settle three class actions, including one brought by the Katherine community, launched over groundwater contamination caused by chemicals used in firefighting foam at defence bases.

The government says it has reached an in-principle agreement over three Federal Court of Australia compensation claims relating to per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination in Katherine (NT), Williamtown (NSW) and Oakey (Qld).

The detailed terms of the settlement, which will be confidential, are yet to be finalised.

Greg Dowling, the founder of Katherine NT Action Group - a group raising awareness of toxic chemicals in Katherine’s water - said he would reserve judgement on the news until seeing the terms of the final settlement.

“It would be intesting to know if they are acknowledging if the PFAS is doing damage and that’s an actual problem, or if it’s just solely about land values having gone down because of the hysteriea around PFAS,” he said.

“If they acknowledge that PFAS is doing harm in the community and that’s why they’re paying this out, then that opens the doors for the residents of Katherine as a whole to actually criminally charge the government for failing their duty of care under the toxic chemical monitoring law, which is stipulated under the World Health Orgnisation.

“That is our hope. But my biggest concern is that they’re doing it to smokescreen.”

Senator for the Northern Territory Malarndirri McCarthy welcomed the news.

Senator for the Northern Territory Malarndirri McCarthy has welcomed the news of the PFAS settlement. Picture: Justin Kennedy

“This is incredibly relieving and welcome news that PFAS mediation has been successful and that in-principle agreement has been reached to settle the three class actions,” she said.

“Whilst we’re yet to see the final details of the Federal Government’s offer, it’s positive news that the Federal Government is finally stepping up and doing the job it was meant to do for the families suffering.”

“I am pleased for the people of the Northern Territory, particularly Katherine, who gave evidence to our PFAS inquiry in 2018.”

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“I have pursued this continually on behalf of the residents of the NT and will continue to do so until there is a satisfactory outcome.”

“I call on the Federal Government to now respond formally in the Senate to our report that was tabled in November 2018.”