Marise Payne (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Hansard source

Defence is, as I said, working with those local organisations. It is inevitable that there will be people whose concerns are continuing, and we are trying very hard to work with the appropriate authorities in New South Wales to provide the level of information and the level of reassurance and support that they need. I have, through the assistant minister Darren Chester, made every effort to ensure that the information coming from the defence department is what the community requires, and if concerns have been raised with us then we have endeavoured to provide further information.

But I do want to reinforce that this is actually not a Defence issue. This is an issue, both internationally and nationally, for any body, any authority, that used PFOS and PFOA firefighting foams over extended periods of time—so, the Country Fire Authority in Victoria, and other airport and transport facilities similarly. This will be a matter that has to be explored at both a national and a state level to determine the appropriate levels of response. (Time expired)