McCormack welcomes national body to respond to the impact of PFAS on communities

Riverina’s federal MP Michael McCormack has welcomed the announcement of a national body that will respond to the needs of communities impacted by per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination around Defence bases.

On Thursday (5 December), the Federal Government handed down its response to an independent review of PFAS contamination near three bases including Williamtown in NSW, Oakey in Queensland and RAAF Base Tindal in the Northern Territory.

Mr McCormack congratulated the government for agreeing to 18 of the 19 recommendations and noting one.

“Residents surrounding or affected by contamination at these bases are understandably concerned about the impacts of PFAS and, if this announcement will help allay their concerns and deliver positive outcomes, it can only be welcomed,” he said.

“This is what the community expects and deserves — we know Wagga Wagga has its own PFAS complications surrounding RAAF Base Wagga and Blamey Barracks, Kapooka.”

PFAS are chemicals found in firefighting foam used on Defence bases in the past and in other fire-resistant and non-stick household products.

While Wagga Wagga was not included in the review, Minister for Defence Personnel and Veterans’ Affairs Matt Keogh said the creation of a national coordinating body would support all impacted communities.

“This is really important, that we take a nationally coordinated approach across all the relevant departments, across all three levels of government, in developing appropriate responses, but also critically sharing the science, which is evolving rapidly at this time, so that the communities know what’s going on,” he said.

“This is not just an issue confronting us in Australia. PFAS is an issue confronting the world.”

Last month, Riverina Water reassured Tarcutta residents that their drinking water was safe after low-level PFAS detection in the village’s bore water supply.

Following further testing, one of the two bores was identified as the source and taken offline.

Riverina Water continues to monitor a groundwater ‘plume’ that is moving from Forest Hill in an easterly direction towards the East Wagga bore field.

Mr Keogh said advances in technology showed positive signs in the global battle to clean up the chemicals and said the latest information would be made easily accessible through a national PFAS website.

“The technology is available to clean soil, clean water in particular, and to mitigate the impacts of PFAS,” he said.

“What is really important about what the review goes to, and our response, is making sure that communities have that information.”

In addition to the government’s agreement to establish a national coordinating body, the Senate is currently accepting submissions from the public on the regulation and management of PFAS.

Mr McCormack urged community members to make submissions to the committee before they close on 19 December.

“It is important that these types of inquiries hear the concerns of impacted individuals and communities in order to inform the best possible policy outcomes,” he said.

“I will continue to pay close attention to developments surrounding PFAS and advocate for positive solutions to its impacts.”

Public hearings are expected to be held in early 2025.