According to Reuters, on May 28, the Australian government announced it was filing a lawsuit against 3M and its Australian subsidiary, seeking over AUD 2 billion (approximately USD 1.43 billion). The government accuses 3M of concealing information about the harmful effects of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS, commonly known as “forever chemicals”) present in its firefighting foam products, which have led to contamination at 28 Australian defence bases. Michelle Rowland, Australia’s Attorney-General, stated that while 3M publicly claimed its products were safe, biodegradable, and non-toxic, it concealed “significant adverse environmental impacts” identified in internal tests. Peter Khalil, Deputy Minister of Defence, revealed that the Defence Department has so far spent around AUD 1.3 billion addressing the contamination—including AUD 408 million in settlement payments to affected communities—and has treated over 200,000 tonnes of contaminated soil and more than 13 billion litres of polluted water. 3M said it would defend itself in court, adding that it never manufactured PFAS in Australia and ceased selling related foam products roughly two decades ago.
This case represents the largest lawsuit ever filed by the Australian government and is the latest instance of governments worldwide holding 3M accountable for PFAS pollution. Previously, 3M faced thousands of similar lawsuits in the United States; in 2023, it agreed to pay over USD 10.3 billion to resolve claims brought by multiple U.S. water authorities. Australia banned all PFAS use last year. Since the 1940s, PFAS have been widely employed in industrial and consumer goods; due to their resistance to degradation, they now persist extensively in the environment and human bodies, and are linked to health issues such as liver damage, low birth weight, and testicular cancer.