Australian Greens Senator for NSW, Mehreen Faruqi, has said that today's announcement of a NSW ban on firefighting foam containing PFAS chemicals is welcome, but long overdue.
The Commonwealth should now proceed with a national ban.
Senator Faruqi said:
"Communities across NSW will welcome this news. It is long overdue. Our environment and people's livelihoods have been ruined by toxic PFAS chemicals.
"We need a national ban now. The cross-party Senate committee I sit on has already recommended that the Commonwealth expedite the work to ban and destroy long chain PFAS-based firefighting foams. It's time to get this done. No excuses. No ifs, no buts.
"When visiting PFAS-affected communities, I have seen first-hand the impacts these toxic chemicals have had on the lives of ordinary people. They all deserve justice.
"The government must commit to a proper compensation scheme for those impacted by PFAS chemicals, including the possibility of buy-backs. Too many people have been completely left behind," she said.
