Assistant Minister for Defence - Interview on Triple J Hack - 14 April 2016

TOM TILLEY:                         

Sarah McVeigh on the Hunter River near the Williamtown RAAF base where fire-fighting chemicals have been leaking into the water supply and the river and as you heard locals are considering a class action to sue the Defence Force. Now clearly this is causing huge concern in the Hunter. Let's see what the Government has to say about it. We have Michael McCormack the Assistant Defence Minister with us on the phone. Michael McCormack thank you so much for joining us.

MICHAEL MCCORMACK:    

That's fine Tom.

TOM TILLEY:                         

We heard there that Defence knew as far back as 2003 that these chemicals were dangerous and then in September just last year, twelve years later suddenly local fishermen were told they can't fish in the river anymore. Has Defence made some big mistakes here?

MICHAEL MCCORMACK:    

Well look between 2006 and 2011 Defence did move to a more environmentally friendly fire-fighting product for critical incidents containing only trace levels of PFOS and PFOA. In 2011 Defence began testing for PFOS and PFOA as part of existing routine environmental monitoring on all of its bases. But you know most people in developed countries have, I'm told, some form of PFOS and PFOA in their systems. So these compounds have been used in common household items such as non-stick fry pans, vinyl cleaners and industrial applications. So this isn't just a unique Australian Defence issue…

TOM TILLEY:                         

Sure.

MICHAEL MCCORMACK:    

This isn't just a unique nationally, so it's a global issue. And as I say I can't stress that enough. It's not an issue unique to Defence. But you know Defence also understands that no specific health conditions have been globally accepted, globally accepted, to be directly caused by exposure to PFOS or PFOA.

TOM TILLEY:                         

So you say what, there's nothing to worry about?

MICHAEL MCCORMACK:    

Well I'm not saying that and certainly there are tests being done, environmental tests being done, there are standards being sought. Look the very first visit that I made as the Assistant Minister to Defence and I'm responsible for the Defence estate in Australia, so I'm responsible for all of those. The very first visit I made was to Williamtown on 7 March. So I gave them that promise. I've only been the Assistant Minister for Defence since late February, but I gave them that guarantee that the very first working day basically when Parliament wasn't sitting I would be there and I was [indistinct]…

TOM TILLEY:                         

Why did you wait 'til then? Why didn't you go up there earlier?

MICHAEL MCCORMACK:    

I can understand their concerns. I looked- the reference group people who have been elected and selected and represented the community, I understand their concerns. It is an issue and Defence is doing everything it possibly can. It has been, you know, up to many, many meetings. I know Defence staff have been to many, many meetings. And it is an issue that we obviously want to work with the committee to getting some sort of resolution for them.

TOM TILLEY:                         

Okay, you say Defence is doing everything it can. When did it start doing everything it could to look after locals here? Because as you just said it was way back in 2006 that you started restricting the use of this chemical because you knew there were problems relating to it and it's only last year that the community…

MICHAEL MCCORMACK:    

[Interrupts] [indistinct] there was problems with it but because, you know, it was a world wide thing that they wanted to find a more environmentally friendly…

TOM TILLEY:                         

Because there were problems with it.

MICHAEL MCCORMACK:    

Well, in 2011 Defence began testing for PFOS and PFOA and certainly, you know, as part of existing routine environment. They do that all the time. I mean Defence bases with planes and with these sorts of incidents when there are incidents involving fire, obviously they need to put them out and that was the world wide accepted method of being able to put out liquid fuel fires and it wasn't just as I say a Defence issue, it was [indistinct] this was done globally.

TOM TILLEY:                         

Alright, well we heard in the Senate inquiry that there was a recommendation to compensate local fishermen like Jason and buy back land if people wanted to sell out of the area. Will you follow that recommendation?

MICHAEL MCCORMACK:    

Well look I'm aware that the second hearing in the Senate inquiry. The part (b) was held in Canberra 7 April, so short on a week ago, and…

TOM TILLEY:                         

The part (a) deals with Williamtown, that's what we're talking about. Will you compensate these people?

MICHAEL MCCORMACK:    

Part (a) [indistinct] the Government's response to that is imminent. That's been looked at obviously by Defence at the moment. So we resume Parliament next week, I'll certainly be sitting down with the necessary authorities in Defence and certainly discussing when and what sort of response we will make to part (a). But part (b) you know we had evidence from the Office of Defence Special Counsel to the effect that no formal claims for compensation had as yet been made against Defence…

TOM TILLEY:                         

Okay well, yeah that's an interesting point talking about part …

MICHAEL MCCORMACK:    

[Indistinct]…regarding compensation but Defence has not been contacted in relation to any formal legal claim.

TOM TILLEY:                         

Well yeah talking about part (b) is interesting because that relates to other bases that were also using this chemical and potentially you might be facing a similar problem around the country, could this become a really costly national nightmare for Defence?

MICHAEL MCCORMACK:    

Well it's not just on Defence bases either, you know, and…

TOM TILLEY:                         

But that's your portfolio. That's what we want to talk about.

MICHAEL MCCORMACK:    

Sure I appreciate that. It's not just a Defence issue, it is national, it is a global issue, So, you know, I…

TOM TILLEY:                         

But let's talk about your portfolio here in Australia.

MICHAEL MCCORMACK:    

Sure. Well look Defence gave evidence that it's began trailing in at least two remediation methods just recently, week just gone. Defence is currently investigating remediation options as an absolute priority. Now Defence has received and is reviewing a number of proposals relating to remediation, and that's, you would expect that and Defence should be doing that and is doing that. Defence is currently conducting several trials and research in order to inform full scale approaches. So we know that Williamtown people are concerned. We appreciate that. I've met with most people. First thing I did as the Assistant Minister for Defence. I'm constantly keeping the Minister for Defence Senator Marise Payne up to date with what's happening and obviously continuing to talk, not just to Defence officials but also with locals from Williamtown, from Oakey and from other Defence sites [indistinct].

TOM TILLEY:                         

Yeah well as you heard they've heard a lot of talking, they certainly want some action now. We'll be keeping a close eye on what action you do take in this area. Michael McCormack, thank you so much for joining us on Hack.

MICHAEL MCCORMACK:    

Thank you, all the very best.