Australia Files Record $1.4 Billion Lawsuit Against 3M Over Toxic ‘Forever Chemicals’ Contamination

Australia has launched a record-breaking lawsuit against 3M, seeking more than AU$2 billion (US$1.4 billion) in damages over contamination linked to toxic “forever chemicals” used at military defence bases.

The legal action, filed in the Federal Court of Australia, targets Minnesota-based 3M and its Australian subsidiary over contamination involving per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly known as PFAS. The chemicals were widely used in firefighting foam at 28 Australian defence sites.

PFAS chemicals are often referred to as “forever chemicals” because they do not naturally break down in the environment and can remain in soil and water for decades. The substances have been linked globally to environmental pollution and growing public health concerns.

The Australian government said the lawsuit represents the country’s largest-ever compensation claim related to environmental contamination.

Michelle Rowland accused 3M of failing to adequately disclose the environmental dangers associated with PFAS-containing firefighting foam.

“The Commonwealth is seeking more than AU$2 billion in damages to recover significant past and future expenses incurred in investigating and managing contamination resulting from the historic storage and use of this foam,” Rowland told reporters.

Australia alleges the contamination has forced authorities to spend enormous sums on environmental cleanup, water treatment, and health protection measures around affected military facilities.

Peter Khalil revealed that the Defence Department has already spent approximately AU$1.3 billion managing contamination impacts. According to Khalil, cleanup operations have included removing more than 200,000 metric tons of contaminated soil and treating approximately 13 billion litres of polluted water.

“We are prepared to take on powerful corporations when Australians and Australian communities have been impacted,” Khalil said.

The contamination issue gained national attention in 2018 when Australia’s Defence Department warned residents living near Richmond Air Base outside Sydney to limit consumption of locally produced fish and eggs after PFAS was discovered in nearby groundwater.

In response to the lawsuit, 3M denied responsibility and vowed to challenge the claims in court.

The company stated that it never manufactured PFAS in Australia and stopped selling the products in the country nearly two decades ago. 3M also argued that the Australian Defence Department continued using PFAS-based firefighting foams long after those sales ended.

PFAS chemicals have been widely used since the 1950s in products designed to resist heat, grease, stains, and water. The firefighting foam involved in the lawsuit was commonly used to combat fuel fires due to its effectiveness in high-risk environments.

The case adds to growing global legal pressure on chemical manufacturers over the long-term environmental and health effects associated with PFAS contamination.

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