Millions in PFAS compo reaches affected Katherine residents

KATHERINE landowners have finally started to receive $92.5m in federal compensation for a landmark class action over PFAS contamination this week

• Multimillion-dollar payouts for PFAS contamination
• PFAS contimaination lie means owners of home near the Edinburgh RAAF base must return house deposit

KATHERINE landowners have finally started to receive $92.5m in federal compensation for a landmark class action over PFAS contamination this week.

Shine Lawyers’ class actions practice leader Joshua Aylward said approximately $92.5m would be distributed to the 1700 eligible Katherine residents.

Class action member and retired Katherine GP Peter John Spafford said while the payout was a step in the right direction, it was still inadequate.

Dr Peter Spafford was Katherine’s GP for a decade. Picture: Che Chorley

“It’s still a meagre amount we’re getting at the end of the day,” Mr Spafford said.

“It’s not enough to relocate. It’s not enough to compensate for the fact that we still can’t use our water for washing the veggies of anything.”

MORE NEWS

Gaps in government response to blame for PFAS community anxiety, parliamentary report finds

Health effects of PFAS inconclusive but authorities cautious

PFAS still in use as compensation settlement reached

On February 26 last year, Shine Lawyers reached an in-principle agreement with the Department of Defence, achieving justice for Katherine residents in areas where land values had been affected by the historic use of toxic firefighting foam at government military bases.

Shine Lawyers Lachlan Brimblecombe and Julia Younger meeting with members of the Katherine community to discuss a PFAS class action in 2018. Picture: Patrina Malone

In June, Federal Court Justice Michael Lee approved the federal government’s $212.5m settlement.

HOT NEW DEAL: Read everything for 28 days for just $1

Katherine group members were awarded $92.5m, with Oakey group members receiving $25.1m.

Follow @tashemeck