Australia sues US conglomerate 3M for $1.4 billion over ‘forever chemicals’ contamination

Australia has launched a significant lawsuit against the US conglomerate 3M and its Australian subsidiary, seeking over A$2 billion (approximately US$1.4 billion) in damages. The legal action, filed on May 28, 2026, concerns widespread contamination at 28 Australian defense bases caused by "forever chemicals," or PFAS, found in firefighting foam manufactured by 3M. This marks the largest legal claim ever initiated by the Australian federal government.

The Australian government alleges that 3M withheld crucial information and misrepresented the environmental and health impacts of its aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) containing PFAS. Australian Attorney-General Michelle Rowland stated that the government is committed to holding 3M accountable for the economic and environmental harms, as taxpayers have already incurred over A$1 billion in costs for investigating, managing, and remediating the contamination.

In response, 3M has declared its intention to defend itself against these claims through the legal process. The company asserts that it never manufactured PFAS in Australia and ceased sales of the products in question approximately two decades ago. 3M also highlighted that, according to a recent legislative committee report, the Australian Department of Defence continued to use PFAS-containing firefighting foams for nearly two decades longer after 3M stopped its sales.