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

I thank Senator Burston for his question and for some advance notice of that. I certainly recognise the concern that exists in PFAS affected communities, including Williamtown. Having previously visited and met with community members in both Williamtown and Oakey, I am acutely aware of the impacts that these detections have had on those communities that surround the affected bases.

I note the senator's query in relation to maps which have recently been released. On 5 December, Defence held a community information session to present the final environmental site assessment and human health risk assessment reports which built on the findings collected from previous investigation stages. They involved an additional 4,646 samples of groundwater, soil, sediment, surface water, rainwater tanks, pools, fruits, vegetables and aquatic animals—taking the total number of samples in the overall investigation to over 10,000.

The HHRA report included a map that described four risk zones, each with their own precautions, as recommended by Defence's expert consultants. This report was provided to the New South Wales EPA in October. The HHRA followed the NEPM framework for site contamination investigations and included a range of point-in-time sampling and analysis to understand the nature and extent of PFAS contamination as it currently is. Prior to the release by Defence of the final HHRA, the New South Wales EPA then released their own map and associated precautionary health advice. Those authorities determined the need for three management zones and issued precautionary health advice for each of these zones.

Defence provided the HHRA point-in-time sampling data to the New South Wales government in advance of their announcement. It is understood that the New South Wales authorities determined the need for three management zones and issued precautionary health advice to those respective residents based on not only this information but also other information available to them as well as modelling of future possible impacts.