It is seeking damages from the U.S. chemicals maker and its local unit totalling more than $1.4 billion – the country’s largest ever legal claim.
The government used the firefighting foam at 28 defence bases across the country.
Attorney-General Michelle Rowland said 3M withheld a range of information:
“This included, withholding 3M’s own environmental laboratory testing which showed there was significant adverse environmental effects associated with the use of 3M firefighting foam, representing that 3M firefighting foam could be safely disposed of, was biodegradable and not toxic, and there were no significant adverse environmental effects even when disposed of in the way recommended by 3M, and limiting or insufficiently disclosing the effects of 3M firefighting foam in a manner that was inconsistent with their own knowledge of the potential impacts.”
Australia says the foam contained PFAS – a group of manufactured chemicals that are widely used in products resistant to heat, stains, grease and water.
Known as “forever chemicals,” they do not naturally break down in the environment and have been linked to health conditions, including liver damage and testicular cancer.
3M Statement
3M said in a statement that it had “never manufactured PFAS in Australia and ceased sales of the products at issue in Australia around two decades ago.”
The company added that “despite this, the Department of Defence continued to use PFAS-containing firefighting foams for nearly two decades longer.”
It said it would defend itself against the claims in court.
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