State and Federal Members of Parliament representing the PFAS contaminated Red Zone in Williamtown have welcomed the report into the Federal Government’s handling of PFAS contamination in and around Defence sites.

The inquiry by the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade listed nine recommendations including a Coordinator General to co-ordinate a national response to contamination, measures to improve participation in voluntary blood testing and compensation.

Federal Member for Paterson, Meryl Swanson, who is a member of the committee, spoke in Parliament as the report was tabled, calling on the Government to respond to the recommendations.

“I welcome this report and I thank every member of my community who made a submission and testified. I urge the Government to respond formally and urgently. These people have been through hell and back - it’s time we get an official response so we can move forward,” she said.

While the report was welcomed, State Member for Port Stephens, Kate Washington, says none of it is news to residents.

“These recommendations are a list of everything the community has been calling for during the past three years. But time and time again the Federal Government has failed to listen to the community.” 

The Morrison Government is yet to formally respond to the report.

 TUESDAY, 4 DECEMBER 2018