Damage from toxic leaks can’t be undone: victims

Residents who settled a court case over the leak of dangerous chemicals say no financial reward can undo the damage done.

Lindsay Clout, a spokesman for the Williamtown class action group against the government. Picture: Peter Lorimer.

Residents who settled a court case against the federal government over the leak of dangerous chemicals into their homes say no financial reward can undo the damage done to their properties and their health.

The government has settled three class actions with communities in Queensland, NSW and the Northern Territory that had suffered through PFAS (polyfluoroalkyl substances) leaks from military bases. PFAS have been found to have links with testicular and liver cancer, and the agreement is only the second PFAS class action settlement in the world.

Cain Gorfine and his partner, Rihanna, who have been at the forefront of the Williamtown class action at Newcastle, said the settlement had come after five years of properties losing their worth and growing fears over the effect of PFAS in bloodstreams. “It’s a great day — we won — but it was five years too long. We have had to fight Defence and fight our own government every step of the way,” Mr Gorfine said.

“Nearly 700 families were affected when PFAS leaked from RAAF Base Williamtown in September 2015. We could no longer use our own bore water, we couldn’t grow fruits and vegetables. We could no longer use our properties. They were worthless. I have this stuff in my blood now. No settlement can make up for that.”

PFAS were widely used in firefighting foams at defence bases and are thought to have contaminated hundreds of communities near military bases.

There are no further class actions against the Defence Force for the leaks but Mr Gorfine said he would not be surprised if there were more.