Both major parties are under pressure to announce their plans to help residents living with the impact of PFAS contamination in the Williamtown Red Zone in the lead-up to the federal election.
Residents, Labor and the Greens have slammed the final report from the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade into Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) remediation on and near Defence sites.
The 129-page report provides little in the way of a path forward for impacted communities and is effectively a summary of the work done to manage PFAS contamination to date.
Salt Ash resident Rob Roseworn said the report was another let-down for impacted communities.
"Are we impatient? I think time will show that we have been more than patient but this is not getting resolved. The residents who were spoken to in the investigation referred to the possibility of buy-backs. The previous committee report referred to the possibility of buy-backs neither of which have happened. We are still stuck here," he said.
Fullerton Cove resident Lindsay Clout said the report appeared to be an attempt by bureaucrats to justify their existence.
"They (the federal government) is very keen to run a scare campaign on the Chinese government because it is convenient for them but I'd like them to think about whether the Chinese government would treat their people as badly as it treated the people in Williamtown," Mr Clout said.
It was revealed on Friday that the committee overrode several of the recommendations of its subcommittee regarding PFAS remediation.
Labor is expected to make a policy announcement on PFAS contamination during the election campaign.
Meanwhile Red Zone residents have called on Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who is expected to visit the region next week, to meet with them.
Paterson MP Meryl Swanson said she would continue to fight for a just outcome for those impacted by PFAS.
"It is most unfortunate that the original recommendations of the PFAS Subcommittee were amended by the full committee where the government has the numbers.
"My position on PFAS has been consistent for the past six years, I have fought for and stood with my community and we will have more to say about remediation in the forthcoming weeks.
Liberal candidate for Paterson Brooke Vitnell said it was important that work on PFAS remediation continued.
"I have met with and discussed this issue with community representatives and I understand the longstanding concerns and anxieties," she said.
"It's important that the government work with residents closely, that they receive timely information and that progress is made on remediation efforts.
"As someone who has been involved in a mental health service I am also acutely aware of the need such services are provided to the community."
