The Australian government has launched legal action against multinational manufacturer 3M over contamination from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) at defence sites, seeking damages exceeding $2bn (US$1.4bn). Attorney General Michelle Rowland announced the lawsuit on Thursday, describing it as the largest legal claim ever brought by the federal government.
Rowland stated that the use of PFAS, known as 'forever chemicals', in firefighting foam caused significant environmental and economic harm. The government alleges that 3M and its Australian subsidiary withheld and misrepresented information about the risks of aqueous film-forming foam, including its environmental impact and disposal safety.
Assistant Defence Minister Peter Khalil said 28 defence bases across Australia have been affected, requiring the removal and treatment of over 200,000 tonnes of contaminated soil. More than 13 billion litres of water have been used in the decontamination effort, which began after Defence started phasing out PFAS in 2004.
Three key PFAS chemicals were banned in Australia last year due to health risks including liver damage, lower birth weight, and testicular cancer. The government has already spent over $1bn investigating and mitigating contamination at defence sites.
A 3M spokesperson told Guardian Australia that the company has never manufactured PFAS in Australia and stopped sales of the products around two decades ago. The spokesperson said Defence continued using PFAS-containing foams for nearly two decades longer, and that 3M would defend itself against the claims through legal proceedings.
The lawsuit follows a $133m class action settlement by the federal government in 2023 and a $10.3bn settlement by 3M in the US in 2023 to clean up public water systems. Greens Senator Peter Whish-Wilson called for action to prevent Australia becoming a global dumping ground for PFAS products.
