Australia has filed a record lawsuit against US company 3M seeking more than US$1.4 billion (and reported as over AU$2 billion) in damages related to contamination at defence sites. The government alleges 3M misled authorities about the safety of firefighting foam containing PFAS, often described as “forever chemicals” because they persist in the environment. According to reporting across outlets, the contamination is linked to the use of PFAS-containing firefighting foam at 28 Defence bases. The Australian government says the contamination has created significant environmental and economic harm, including costs borne by taxpayers for investigation and cleanup. One outlet reports that more than $1 billion has already been spent on managing, investigating and cleaning up the affected sites. Australia’s attorney general, Michelle Rowland, is described as announcing the legal action and stating it is the largest claim brought by the federal government. The lawsuit seeks to recover costs associated with managing PFAS pollution at the bases and related impacts.