PFAS lawsuit: ‘Members of the community are extremely upset’

NEARLY every resident of Katherine has joined a multimillion-dollar class action lawsuit against Defence, lawyers have confirmed

Aerial of the Northern Territory township of Katherine and the Katherine River bridge.

NEARLY every resident of Katherine has joined a multimillion-dollar class action lawsuit against Defence, lawyers have confirmed.

Shine Lawyers special counsel Joshua Aylward said almost 7000 people were part of the Katherine claim, suing the Australian Defence Force over PFAS contamination in the Territory town.

DEFENCE Department speaks out on ‘PFAS-related issue’ in Katherine

FAY Miller: ‘It’s for the people of Katherine’

The class action was operating on an opt-out system, with all residents automatically part of it unless they withdrew.

Mr Aylward said Katherine had the “highest support” of any town the firm has seen in any matter to date.

“Katherine has between 6000 and 7000 residents,” he said.

“There’s only a very, very handful of those that opted out, and everyone else chose to remain in.”

Mr Aylward said many residents he spoke to in Katherine felt left out and forgotten.

“They feel like they are forgotten, and the Federal Government doesn’t care about them,” he said.

“Members of the community are extremely upset.”

Shine Lawyers Lachlan Brimblecombe and Julia Younger are meeting with the Katherine community to discuss a PFAS class action. PICTURE: Patrina Malone

Shine Lawyers filed the lawsuit in August 2018 alleging Defence negligently allowed firefighting foam to escape from RAAF Base Tindal and contaminate the town’s soil and groundwater.

The foam contains potentially dangerous man-made chemicals called PFAS and PFOA. The long-term health impact of exposure to the chemicals is still unknown.

Mr Aylward said the lawsuit alleged PFAS contamination negatively affected land values in Katherine.

He said his team would now focus on finalising evidence before Christmas.

The trial is likely to run between 8-10 weeks in 2020, though no date has been set.

On Sunday, Defence said it was aware Katherine Town Council had decided to remain in the class action.

ONLY $1 a week: OUR best value NT News subscription deal yet (Min. cost $4)

“As these matters are before the court, it would not be appropriate to comment further,” a spokesman said.

“It is open to any person or business that may have suffered loss or damage connected to a PFAS-related issue to deal directly with Defence.

“Defence is committed to minimising the impact of PFAS contamination.”