The Australian government has sued 3M, a major U.S. manufacturer, seeking up to AUD 2 billion (approximately THB 46.5 billion) after discovering contamination of naturally non-degradable chemicals, known as "forever chemicals," from firefighting foam at 28 military bases across the country.
The Australian government announced it has filed a lawsuit against 3M, a U.S. consumer goods and manufacturing giant, in the Federal Court seeking damages of up to AUD 2 billion (about THB 46.5 billion). The company is accused of concealing risks and causing contamination by "forever chemicals" such as PFAS at dozens of military bases nationwide.
Michelle Rowland, Australia's Attorney-General, revealed this is the largest damages claim ever pursued by the Australian government. The lawsuit aims to recover the "massive costs" the government and Australian taxpayers have borne to manage, investigate, and remediate contamination at 28 Department of Defence sites, with over AUD 1 billion already spent.
Peter Khalil, Assistant Minister for Defence, added that the military has already removed over 200,000 tonnes of PFAS-contaminated soil to reduce risks to surrounding communities.
The Australian government’s complaint states that 3M was well aware of the environmental risks posed by its aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) firefighting products but concealed and distorted facts, promising safety in disposal and environmental impact contrary to internal information held at the time.
PFAS (Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances), known as "forever chemicals," are synthetic chemicals notable for heat resistance, water and oil repellency. They are commonly used in firefighting foam, Teflon pans, raincoats, and mobile phones. However, PFAS are highly persistent and do not naturally degrade. Studies indicate that accumulation in bodies and water sources can cause serious health issues, including cancer, leading to strict global regulations.
Although the Australian military began phasing out PFAS-containing firefighting foam since 2004, a parliamentary inquiry last year reported high residual levels of these chemicals near many bases. For example, Aboriginal communities near a naval base in New South Wales face health fears due to contamination of their water and aquatic food sources by firefighting foam. In 2024, severe contamination was also found in the Blue Mountains World Heritage area near an air force base.
This crisis has forced the Australian military to spend about AUD 1.3 billion treating over 13 billion liters of wastewater and supplying bottled and rainwater tanks to 785 affected homes. In 2023, the government settled for AUD 133 million to compensate residents in seven communities who filed a class-action lawsuit.
A 3M spokesperson responded via email, affirming the company will vigorously defend itself legally. "3M never manufactured PFAS in Australia and ceased selling the implicated firefighting foam products in Australia about two decades ago," the statement said. They added that after 3M stopped selling these products, the Australian Department of Defence continued using PFAS-containing foam for another 20 years.
3M, known globally for products like Post-it notes and Scotch tape, announced in 2022 plans to cease all PFAS production and use by the end of 2025. Earlier in 2023, the company settled for as much as USD 10.5 billion to resolve lawsuits concerning chemical contamination of water supplies in the United States.