Malarndirri McCarthy (NT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians) Share this | Hansard source

McCARTHY (—) (): I thank Senator Thorpe for the question and for the work that she is doing in terms of the Senate inquiry. I am advised that these latest reports that we are seeing are certainly very concerning, not just with Wreck Bay—where the inquiry has gone—but also in places like where I reside, up in the Northern Territory.

Can I just say, Senator Thorpe, in terms of the minister for health, that the NHMRC is currently conducting an independent review of the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines and, at the government's request, the NHMRC has agreed to expedite the review and will finalise it early this year. A Senate select committee, as you've already identified, is already out there. Australian drinking water is regularly monitored for the presence of chemicals, including PFAS, to ensure those are within the limits assessed as safe by Australian regulators.

I'm also advised that the NHMRC is currently conducting that review. The independent review will consider recent guidance and reviews from international and national jurisdictions and will determine whether they are suitable to adopt or adapt for Australia.