Australia has launched legal action against U.S. chemicals giant 3M, seeking more than $1.4 billion over contamination linked to firefighting foam containing PFAS chemicals, widely known as “forever chemicals”.
The federal government said the lawsuit, filed against 3M and its Australian subsidiary, is the largest claim ever brought by the country. Officials argue the contamination has caused lasting environmental, financial and social harm.
Attorney-General Michelle Rowland described the case as a major step for the government.
“Make no mistake, this legal action against 3M is significant,” she told reporters on Thursday.
“The Commonwealth is seeking more than $1.4 billion in damages to recover significant past and future expenses incurred in investigating and managing contamination resulting from the historical storage and use of this foam.”
PFAS chemicals were used for decades in firefighting foams because they resist heat and water. Australia’s Defence Department used the products at 28 military sites across the country.
The government claims 3M assured authorities the foam was safe to dispose of, biodegradable and non-toxic. However, officials allege the company failed to disclose its own testing, which pointed to serious environmental risks.
3M rejected the allegations and said it would defend itself in court.
In a statement, the company said it had never produced PFAS in Australia and had stopped selling the products there around 20 years ago.
“Despite this, the Department of Defence continued to use PFAS-containing firefighting foams for nearly two decades longer,” the company said.
PFAS chemicals do not break down naturally, which is why they are often referred to as “forever chemicals”. Scientists and health experts have raised concerns over their build-up in soil, waterways and the human body.
Studies have linked exposure to PFAS to several health problems, including liver damage, lower birth weights and certain cancers.
Assistant Defence Minister Peter Khalil said the government had already spent around $924 million responding to the contamination. That figure includes $290 million paid in settlements to communities affected by pollution near defence sites.
Authorities have also removed or treated more than 200,000 tonnes of contaminated soil and cleaned more than 13 billion litres of water.
“This is the most significant legal action undertaken by Commonwealth and Defence in living memory,” Khalil said.
“To put it plainly, we are taking on 3M on behalf of the Australian people and the Australians that are affected.”
The lawsuit adds to mounting legal pressure on 3M over PFAS pollution around the world. In 2023, the company agreed to pay at least $10.3 billion to settle claims from U.S. public water systems over contaminated drinking water.
Donald Trump has said the U.S. will resume bombing Iran if Tehran doesn't "behave," at the sidelines of the G7 summit in France. Earlier, the U.S. ...
Britain has announced an additional £8 million ($11 million) to help Pakistan combat illegal migration, human trafficking and organised crime, while ...
The Netherlands has announced a new €500 million military support package for Ukraine, focused on drones and air defence systems, as Western allies ...
China has condemned new UK sanctions against two Chinese companies accused of supplying materials used by Russia's military, calling the measures ille...
Kazakhstan will begin routing selected government expenditures worth more than 100 million tenge ($190,000) through its digital tenge platform, expand...
Australia put on a defensive masterclass as they beat Türkiye 2-0 in Vancouver in the final opening Group D match.
A second group of Australian women and children linked to the Islamic State group has departed a refugee camp in north-east Syria and may return to Australia, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported on Friday.
Australian activists released from Israeli custody after being detained on a flotilla trying to deliver aid to Gaza have claimed they were subject to abuse and beatings, which left some hospitalised. Israel’s prison service denies the allegations.
Australian citizens evacuated from a Dutch-flagged cruise ship hit by a deadly hantavirus outbreak have returned home after two weeks overseas. The passengers will now undergo quarantine and further testing in Western Australia.
Donald Trump has said the U.S. will resume bombing Iran if Tehran doesn't "behave," at the sidelines of the G7 summit in France. Earlier, the U.S. President criticised Israel for its tactics against Hezbollah, saying it was unnecessary to bomb entire apartment buildings to tackle militants.
A strong 6.7-magnitude earthquake struck Indonesia's Sulawesi island early Tuesday, killing at least one person and injuring four, according to emergency authorities.
U.S. President Donald Trump said a preliminary agreement to end the war in the Gulf has been signed by the U.S. and Iran, though details have yet to be made public and both countries said a permanent truce is yet to be negotiated.
Australia's weather bureau warned on Tuesday that an El Niño weather pattern has formed in the tropical Pacific and could intensify in the second half of 2026, becoming one of the strongest events recorded in seven decades.
Ukraine has said it struck an oil refinery in Russia’s Moscow region, marking one of the deepest reported attacks into Russian territory in recent months.
The European Commission has announced €493 million in emergency support for the Ebola response, including funding for vaccines, treatment and health security measures.
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has welcomed an $800 million contribution from the U.S., saying the funding will strengthen humanitarian operations as global hunger continues to rise.
A Canadian mother has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and its chief executive Sam Altman, alleging that the company's ChatGPT chatbot encouraged her daughter's suicidal thoughts and failed to intervene before her death.
A U.S. doctor who contracted Ebola while on a humanitarian mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo has recovered and been discharged from a hospital in Germany, according to officials.
Protesters in Nanyuki blocked roads and burned tyres after residents challenged a U.S. plan to house Americans exposed to Ebola at a nearby military base.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment