Meryl Swanson (Paterson, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Today is a big day. Today the Albanese government has commenced legal action in the Federal Court against 3M, seeking more than $2 billion in damages relating to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as PFAS contamination, at 28 defence bases across Australia, including RAAF Base Williamtown in my electorate. This issue is deeply personal to my community. It is deeply personal to me. In many respects, I became involved in this issue and ran for Paterson because of it. My community wanted answers, they wanted accountability and they wanted action. Williamtown has been the frontline of the battle from the very beginning.

The very first PFAS working group has been established. My community is the pilot community, and our residents are helping shape the national response that will follow. Defence has already spent $1.3 billion across the nation on remediation and established a national coordination group to respond to this contamination. But today's action sends a very clear message: this government stands up for Australians. Unlike the former government, which fought my community, this government is fighting for it. We stand up for communities that have carried the burden of contamination for too long, and we stand up to multinational companies when Australians deserve justice.

To my community, I say thank you for your tenacity, your resilience and your forbearance over many difficult years. I'm honoured to be your representative. I want to thank— (Time expired)

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