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.
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