Mehreen Faruqi (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate:

(a) notes that:

  (i) the issue of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination has caused significant mental, emotional and financial stress for communities where PFAS have contaminated land and water, including the communities around the RAAF base in Williamtown in New South Wales, the Oakey Army Aviation Centre in Queensland, and RAAF Base Tindal at Katherine in the Northern Territory,

  (ii) it has been more than 7 months since the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade, tabled its report into the management of PFAS contamination in and around Defence bases, and the Federal Government has still not issued its response, and

  (iii) communities are waiting anxiously on the Government's response to the key recommendations of the Committee, such as, that the Federal Government appoint a Coordinator-General to coordinate the national response to the PFAS contamination issue, undertake measures to improve participation in the voluntary blood testing program for PFAS, and assist property owners and businesses in affected areas for demonstrated, quantifiable financial losses associated with PFAS contamination, including the possibility of buybacks; and

(b) calls on the Federal Government to release its response to the report of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade report, into management of PFAS contamination in and around Defence bases.

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Sue Lines (WA, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Mehreen Faruqi (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

When the inquiry into PFAS contamination handed down its report in this parliament about seven months ago I did urge the government to take concrete action and not leave communities hanging for many months. It is really disappointing that they have not swiftly responded to the recommendations of the report, which are really so important to so many people. This is an extremely serious issue that affects thousands of people across the country, including in my home state of New South Wales around the Williamtown RAAF base.

PFAS contamination has caused significant mental, emotional and financial stress for people, and it's simply not fair for the government to not make its responses to the recommendations clear as soon as possible. The government shouldn't string people along. There is a need to show them the respect that they deserve. They really have waited long enough.

Malcolm Roberts (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Sue Lines (WA, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Malcolm Roberts (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise in support of the motion. The PFAS group of chemicals build up in the human body and in the environment over time. The US EPA and the German government have found high levels of PFAS are toxic for reproduction and development of the human fetus, with probable links to serious conditions, including testicular and kidney cancer. PFAS contamination has been found at RAAF Williamtown, Oakey, Richmond, Edinburgh, East Sale and Townsville.

The foam can seep deep into groundwater, forming a plume that moves beyond the source and into surrounding houses and farms. Residents can be contaminated from drinking the water, coming into contact with the soil or eating food grown or raised in their own soil in these so-called red zones. Residents around some of these bases have elevated levels of PFAS in their blood. The residents are living a nightmare, not just worrying about their own health and the health of their kids but trapped in houses that they can't sell. I support Senator Faruqi's motion and call on the government to maintain its promise to the people of Oakey, to release this report and to get on with fixing the mess. (Time expired)

Question agreed to.