Australia has launched a A$2 billion lawsuit against US consumer goods giant 3M over contamination linked to firefighting foam containing so called “forever chemicals” used at military sites across the country.
The legal action, filed in the Federal Court, seeks damages tied to environmental contamination caused by per and poly fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) at 28 defence bases. Australian authorities said it marks the country’s biggest legal action of its kind.
Assistant Minister for Defence Peter Khalil said the government is seeking compensation to recover the cost of managing and cleaning up contaminated sites. He revealed that around 200,000 tonnes of PFAS-contaminated soil had already been removed due to risks posed to nearby communities.
Attorney General Michelle Rowland said, “We are prepared to take on one of the biggest multinational corporations in the world.”
In its court filing, the Australian government alleged that 3M was aware of the environmental risks linked to the firefighting foam but failed to properly disclose them.
“3M gave assurances about disposal and environmental safety that were inconsistent with what the company knew at the time,” the government said in a statement.
3M responded by saying it would contest the claims.
“3M has never manufactured PFAS in Australia and ceased sales of the products at issue in Australia around two decades ago,” a company spokesperson said in a statement emailed to AFP.
PFAS are synthetic chemicals widely used in products such as non stick cookware, stain resistant carpets and firefighting foam because of their resistance to heat, water and oil. They are often referred to as “forever chemicals” because they take an extremely long time to break down in the environment.
Although Australia’s defence force phased out PFAS containing foams in 2004, contamination remains a concern around several military facilities. A parliamentary inquiry last year heard evidence from Aboriginal communities near a naval base in New South Wales who feared polluted rivers and waterways were linked to health problems.
Authorities have also identified PFAS contamination in the Blue Mountains region near an air force base. As concerns over health risks intensified, the military spent around A$1.3 billion treating 13 billion litres of water and supplying alternative water sources to hundreds of affected properties.
The Australian government had previously settled a A$133 million class action in 2023 involving residents from seven affected communities.
The lawsuit comes after 3M agreed to a US$10 billion settlement in the United States in 2023 over PFAS contamination affecting water supplies.
