Indigenous people affected by PFAS contamination on traditional cultural lands have had a court win through a $22 million class action settlement with the federal government.
The settlement, which was revealed in a Federal Court hearing on Thursday, will result in $17 million minus administration costs and further legal costs going to those impacted by the use of the firefighting chemical.
The class action was brought by the Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community Council and represented both those who reside near the HMAS Creswell and the Jervis Bay Range Facility bases and those who use the land for traditional or cultural purposes.
The case was brought solely seeking damages over decreased use of the land, and does not also include compensation for personal injuries from use of PFAS which is known to be a hazardous substance.
The settlement will still need to be approved as fair and reasonable by the Federal Court.
