The Australian government announced on May 28 that it was taking legal action against the company 3M, an American chemical giant known in particular for its glues. He is seeking damages of 2 billion Australian dollars (1.23 billion euros). An action qualified as “sans précédent†by the daily The Age. It is the largest legal action ever launched by the federal government.
These lawsuits aim to compensate for the contamination of dozens of places on Australian territory by eternal pollutants, as well as the costs incurred by the country in the context of clean-up operations or the payment of compensation to those affected.
In question, firefighting foams manufactured by 3M and used by the Australian Department of Defense on 28 military bases in the country. These foams contain perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
Accusation of concealment
In announcing this action, Australian Justice Minister Michelle Rowland, according to The Age, accused the chemical manufacturer of covering up the effects of PFAS:
“We believe that 3M withheld information and misrepresented the effects of these substances.â€
The Age, who has been investigating PFAS contamination for a decade, recalls that “Nearly 100% of Australians over the age of 12 now have these chemicals in their blood. Substances known to be carcinogenic and which will likely remain in our blood and the environment for decades.†Used in many products, notably for their non-stick power, their impermeability and their resistance to heat, they have contaminated tens of thousands of homes, water and food supplies, as well as vast areas of land.
The government accuses the company of having “concealed test results from his own laboratory that showed the use of 3M firefighting foam had harmful effects on the environment. Yet the company claimed that this foam could be safely disposed of, was biodegradable and non-toxic, and had no significant adverse effects on the environment.â€
In response to the Australian government’s action, a company spokeswoman said the company had never manufactured PFAS in Australia and had stopped selling the products in question in Australia about two decades ago, reports The Age. “Despite this, the Department of Defense continued to use firefighting foams containing PFAS for nearly twenty years,†she added.
Recognition of victims
The lawsuit comes after 3M agreed to pay up to US$12.5 billion (€10.7 billion) to eliminate perennial pollutants from thousands of electricity supply networks in 2024. water in the country.
The Age asked Lindsay Clout, a resident of Fullerton Cove, New South Wales. He was one of the first to sound the alarm, his land and that of his neighbors having been contaminated by the discharge of foam used on the neighboring military base. At the end of a collective legal action, the residents were successful in their request for compensation.
For Lindsay Clout, the Australian government’s complaint against 3M “has a bittersweet taste†. He and his neighbors still live with restrictions on the use of their contaminated land, eleven years after learning of the contamination.
“For a long time, we were told that these chemicals had no effect on health, that we had nothing to worry about… And now, suddenly: ‘Yes, we have a major problem, it’s costing us a lot of money, and we’re going to get our money back.’â€
“It’s a recognition, but it arouses a little anger among those affected.â€
