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Minister for Defence Personnel and Veterans’ Affairs Matt Keogh has announced the creation of a national coordinating body to respond to the specific needs of communities impacted by per-and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) around Defence bases.
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This decision comes following the 2023 government commissioning of an independent review into PFAS contamination around three Defence bases: RAAF Base Williamtown in NSW, the Army Aviation Centre Oakey in Queensland, and RAAF Base Tindal in the Northern Territory.
The government has formally responded to the review, agreeing to 18 of the 19 recommendations, and noting one. The review calls for immediate action to strengthen coordination and integration across all levels of government to respond to the impacts of PFAS contamination.
Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel Matt Keogh welcomed the government’s response, saying, “For too long the calls from PFAS-impacted communities have fallen on deaf ears. The Albanese government has heard these calls and we have taken action in commissioning and responding to this review to deliver meaningful solutions.”
Delivering on an important election commitment and to directly address the concerns raised by local communities, the Albanese government will establish:
- A national coordinating body overseen by federal and state ministers to improve management responses to PFAS and guidance to meet the needs of individual communities.
- A Williamtown Working Group to inform actions to mitigate PFAS contamination around RAAF Base Williamtown.
Work is already underway with the NSW government to establish the Williamtown Working Group, which will implement and oversee pilot initiatives in the area surrounding RAAF Base Williamtown. This will include exploring options to mitigate PFAS contamination and manage the drainage network.
“I thank everyone who helped shape the review. Your individual perspectives and experiences have significantly contributed to the government’s response,” Minister Keogh said.
The review also identified that credible and up-to-date information about PFAS was not easily accessible for impacted communities.
The PFAS National Coordinating Body will help provide practical support and tailored information that is easy to understand for property owners and First Nations communities in affected areas around the country.
Minister Keogh said, “I am confident the PFAS National Coordinating Body and Working Group will deliver a stronger and more integrated whole-of-government response.”
Member for Paterson, Meryl Swanson, welcomed the government’s commitment to the Williamtown community, saying, “This is an important, meaningful step in the right direction for Albanese Labor government as we work to better support communities affected by PFAS contamination around Defence bases, including Williamtown and surrounding suburbs.”
As part of the government’s response to the review, the latest PFAS information, advice and developments will be easily accessible through a central, national PFAS website.
The Albanese government is committed to seeing simple, tailored and impactful measures put in place to specifically address the needs of these communities, while also reforming the approach to PFAS at a national level.
Further information about the review, including the government response can be found here.
