The Australian federal government has launched a lawsuit against the U.S. company 3M over contamination from firefighting foam containing "forever chemicals."
The legal action follows reports of widespread environmental damage and potential health risks to personnel and nearby communities. The case focuses on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as PFAS, which do not break down naturally in the environment.
According to the government, the foam was used across 28 defence bases nationwide [3, 4]. The lawsuit alleges the substance was unsafe and that 3M provided assurances that the foam was safe to dispose of [1, 3]. These chemicals are linked to long-term risks to human health, and the surrounding ecosystem [1, 3].
Financial claims in the suit vary by currency. The Australian government is seeking more than 2 billion Australian dollars [1], which is approximately 1.4 billion U.S. dollars [3].
This is not the first time 3M has faced massive legal liabilities regarding PFAS. In 2023, the company paid a 10.3 billion U.S. dollar settlement in the United States [5]. Additionally, 3M paid 450 million U.S. dollars to the state of New Jersey in 2022 [5].
The lawsuit was officially announced on Thursday, May 28, 2026 [2, 3]. The Australian government said it is pursuing these damages to address the cleanup and mitigation of the contaminated sites.
“The government alleges the foam was unsafe, containing PFAS that pose long-term risks.”
This litigation reflects a growing global trend of sovereign governments holding chemical manufacturers accountable for the systemic environmental costs of PFAS. By targeting 3M, Australia is leveraging the precedent set by multi-billion dollar U.S. settlements to recover costs associated with military site remediation and public health monitoring.
