Communities around military bases have been exposed to PFAS contamination due to prolonged use of the substance in firefighting foam.
The Australian government has announced a national coordinating body to address PFAS (per-and poly-fluoroalkyl substances) contamination, following a review that called for stronger action.
The body will oversee the management of PFAS pollution at key sites across the country, including Williamtown Air Force Base in New South Wales, Army Aviation Centre Oakey in Queensland, and Tindal Air Force Base in the Northern Territory.
The areas have been heavily contaminated by toxic firefighting foam, affecting nearby landowners and raising environmental and public health concerns.
Defence Personnel Minister Matt Keogh emphasised the importance of a nationally consistent approach to tackling the issue.
“PFAS has been used on defence bases in a way that has caused contamination to the land, not only on those bases but in the land around those bases as well,” he said.
A working group in Williamtown will also provide information on ways to mitigate the risks posed by PFAS exposure.
National Body and Inquiry to Tackle PFAS Risks
The coordinating body was among the 18 recommendations from a review agreed to by the federal government.
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Keogh said the body would also help provide communities affected by PFAS with information on efforts to address contamination.
“This is really important that we take a nationally coordinated approach across all the relevant departments … but also critically sharing the science, which is evolving rapidly at this time, so that communities know what’s going on,” he said.
In addition to the national coordinating body, the Senate in September appointed a Select Committee to inquire into the extent and regulation of PFAS exposure.
The Committee will present its final report by August 2025, focusing on the environmental, health, and economic impacts of PFAS contamination, as well as recommendations for strengthening regulation.
Submissions for the inquiry close on Dec. 19, 2024, with public hearings scheduled for early 2025.
Health Risks and Ongoing Investigations
The government’s commitment to addressing PFAS contamination is backed by research.
In 2017, an expert Health Panel found PFAS exposure has been linked with health effects like liver and thyroid complications.
To assess public health risks, the Environmental Health Standing Committee (enHealth) has issued guidance on how to reduce PFAS exposure, particularly for vulnerable groups such as pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers.
As part of this response, the government has funded mental health services for residents near known PFAS contamination sites.
Australia started phasing out PFAS-containing firefighting foams in 2004, but their historic use has resulted in significant contamination at defence bases and airports.
In 2020, the Defence Department paid $212.5 million to landholders near three defence bases as part of a class action settlement.
AAP has contributed to this article.
