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

As I think the senator is aware from her briefing—but, if not, we can augment that—the processes in Williamtown and in Oakey in relation to the human health risk assessment, the ecological risk assessment and the environmental risk assessment were completed, and then assessments were made by the health authorities—not by Defence—in relation to the provision of blood tests. Defence does not hold itself out as a health expert in this matter at all. We take our advice from the Chief Medical Officer and the teams in Health.

I understand the concerns that are there in the community. They're not just there in Katherine, as you know; they're there in Williamtown, and they're there in Oakey. We are working very hard to ensure that we have the broadest possible environmental investigations to provide the information that we need to make those assessments. Once we better understand the extent of the contamination and, most particularly, the exposure pathways in relation to PFAS, then the health experts will be in a better position to consider the expansion of the voluntary blood-testing program. (Time expired)