The Australian government has launched legal action against multinational manufacturer 3M, seeking damages of more than $2bn over PFAS chemical contamination at defence sites. Attorney General Michelle Rowland announced the lawsuit on Thursday, describing it as the largest legal claim ever brought by the federal government.
The case centres on the use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in firefighting foam, which has caused significant environmental and economic harm. Three key PFAS chemicals were banned in Australia last year due to concerns about contamination and health risks, including liver damage, lower birth weight and testicular cancer.
The government alleges that 3M and its Australian subsidiary withheld and misrepresented information about the effects of the foam, failing to disclose known environmental risks and giving misleading assurances about disposal and safety. Assistant Defence Minister Peter Khalil said 28 defence bases had been affected, requiring the removal and treatment of over 200,000 tonnes of contaminated soil and the use of more than 13 billion litres of water in decontamination efforts.
3M has stated it never manufactured PFAS in Australia and stopped sales around two decades ago, but noted that the Department of Defence continued using PFAS-containing foams for nearly 20 years longer. The company said it would defend itself through legal proceedings. The lawsuit follows a $10.3bn settlement by 3M in the US in 2023 to clean up PFAS pollution in public water systems.
