Labor Promise For Williamtown Red Zone Residents Expected To Fall Short

BY IAN CROUCH

Residents living in the Williamtown red zone are being warned not to expect too much from today's announcement by federal Labor.

Shadow defence minister, Richard Marles is expected to commit a future Shorten government to further and quicker research and testing on the impact of PFAS chemicals as well as a nationwide ban on the substance.

He's also expected to announce federal Labor will pick up the $10 million commitment promised by the their state counterparts if they won the March election,  to clean local drains.

But no money will be promised to compensate residents for having their land contaminated.

The Morrison government has also refused to commit funding towards compensation and property buybacks.

However, federal Paterson candidates representing the Greens, One Nation and the United Australia Parties have committed to fight for compensation if elected on Saturday.

Shadow Defence Minister Richard Marles

Department of Health deny cancer link: PFAS report

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE

The Department of Health has today released its submission from the Expert Health Panel into PFAS contamination.

The study found there are health effects connected to PFAS foams, such as increased cholesterol and uric acid in the blood; lower birth weight in babies; reduced kidney function; changes in thyroid and sex hormones; later starting age for menstruation in girls; or early menopause.

However, the report also stated the "health effect" reported in high-exposure areas such as Williamtown's Cabbage Tree Road is "within normal ranges," concluding there's "limited to no evidence" linking human disease to higher exposure.

"There is no current evidence that supports a large impact on a person’s health as a result of high levels of PFAS exposure," the report said.

Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) chemicals have been contained in firefighting foams widely used throughout Australia since the 1970s because they are highly effective at combating liquid fuel fires.

However the chemicals do not break down easily, can enter groundwater or travel long distances through soil.

Williamtown Residents feel the Federal Government has failed them. Image: ABC. 

An investigation by Fairfax last year concluded there have been 50 cases of cancer in just 15 years for residents living on Cabbage Tree Road, which is located near open drains seeping run-off from the Williamtown RAAF base.

However, evidence of a "cancer cluster" along Cabbage Tree Road was dismissed by NSW Health in February 2018 to the ire of Labor MPs who pointed out the study had "skewed the results" by including residents living outside the Williamtown Red Zone, as far out as Karuah.

18 out of the 50 cancer cases reported by Fairfax had been left out of the report.

In November 2017, the Expert Health Panel was established to inform the Federal Government on a $12.5 million further National Research Program into the effects of PFAS exposure.

Paterson MP, Meryl Swanson earlier this month criticised the Panel's late delivery, saying the report was over 60 days late.

She accused Health Minister Greg Hunt of "sitting on the findings."

The Department of Defence is facing class actions from cancer-affected Williamtown residents and those 500 people suing the government in Oakey, Queensland.

Meanwhile, NSW based firm, Shine Lawyers is conducting investigations into PFAS contamination in the Northern Territory's Katherine area and looks set to launch a class action too.

It comes as Port Stephens MP Kate Washington renews her plea for NSW Premier Berejiklian to ban PFAS firefighting foams which have contaminated properties at Williamtown, after reports the South Australian government has followed in the footsteps of Queensland and issued a ban.

For a summary of the report head to the Department of Health website.

Ongoing Issue: Meryl Swanson addresses media in Williamtown last year to decry the situation. 

Port Stephens Labor Announces Rate Relief Commitment for Red Zone Residents

BY SARAH JAMES

The Port Stephens Labor Council have committed to providing rate relief to residents affected by contamination from the Williamtown RAAF Base, if elected.

Of the estimated 630 homes in the 'red zone', the owners have had to pay full Council rates for the past two years despite learning their land is contaminated.

Labor West Ward candidate Giacomo Arnott said "after two years of inaction, the affected residents deserve the support of their Council, and we will ensure that Council is providing this support".

At this stage it is unknown exactly how much the Council rates will be cut, but Fullerton Cove resident Lindsay Clout believes it should be by 100%.

"Defence have told us they have a forecast that this contamination will be in the water until at least 2036, so we don't think we should be paying rates while we're contaminated," he said.