Sky News host Peter Gleeson says “the good people of Williamtown, Oakey and Kalgoorlie have had a win – of sorts – with the Department of Defence agreeing to an out of court settlement on their class action over PFAS contamination”. The groundwater in these towns were found to be contaminated by per-and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
PFAS does not breakdown and bioaccumulates in soil.
“The good folk of these towns had launched the action with Shine Lawyers litigating on the basis that their land values had plummeted, and business prospects declined after the PFAS leaching,” Mr Gleeson said.
“Yet despite this outcome, the Defence department continues to use firefighting chemicals containing the toxic chemicals, at most bases”.
“The PFAS controversy underscores a major issue at the heart of the way in which this country regulates its environmental obligations”.
A suitable replacement is likely by the middle of this year.
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