The Australian government has launched legal action against the company 3M, seeking more than AU$2 billion (US$1.4 billion) in compensation for environmental damage linked to so-called “forever chemicals”.
The case concerns contamination across 28 Australian Defence Force bases, caused by the long-term use of firefighting foams containing PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances). These chemicals are highly persistent, do not break down naturally, and can remain in soil and groundwater for decades.
According to the government, around AU$1.3 billion has already been spent on environmental remediation, including removing contaminated soil and treating large volumes of polluted water. Authorities also previously issued health warnings to communities near affected bases, advising limits on consuming locally produced food such as fish and eggs.
3M has stated that it did not manufacture PFAS in Australia and stopped selling the relevant products around two decades ago, arguing that the Australian Defence Force continued using similar foams long after. The case is considered one of the largest environmental legal actions in Australia’s history.
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