The federal government is suing Wall Street giant 3M Company for more than $2 billion in an unprecedented legal claim for damages over the contamination of dozens of communities across Australia with toxic “forever chemicals”. Announcing the action in the Federal Court of Australia on Thursday, Attorney-General Michelle Rowland accused the global chemicals maker of withholding and making false statements about the long-term environmental impacts of its firefighting foam containing the per- and polyfluoroalkyl chemicals (PFAS). “Let me be clear, this is the largest legal
claim ever brought by the Commonwealth,” Rowland told reporters in Canberra. The chemicals were used for decades at Defence bases across Australia, and have contaminated homes, drinking water, food supplies and vast tracts of land across the country. More to come.
3M lawsuit, PFAS, forever chemicals, firefighting foam, Federal Court of Australia, Michelle Rowland, Defence bases, contamination, drinking water, food supplies
So they’re suing 3M for $2 billion… good. PFAS stuff is everywhere.
Wait, Australia?? I thought this was just like water in the US. Still, “forever chemicals” being in firefighting foam sounds messed up, like how is that legal.
If they withheld info, shouldn’t they also be suing the Defense folks that used it for decades? Like 3M can be shady but I’m not sure how it works if the government bought it and approved it.
Unprecedented claim or whatever, but $2 billion seems low for contaminating drinking water and homes. Also, I swear I saw on the news that PFAS is from regular cooking pans too, so is this just the first wave or are they gonna blame 3M for literally everything? Firefighting foam always sounded like a cover story anyway.