The Federal Government quietly released a new position statement on PFAS contamination, just two days after agreeing to settle Katherine's class action.
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The release of its "whole of government response to PFAS" came on February 28, just two days after agreeing to settle Katherine's class action.
But it does not mention compensation.
This is the government's long-awaited response to a parliamentary inquiry from 2018 which shocked many by calling for the Government to compensate property owners impacted by the environmental scandal.
There is a third parliamentary inquiry now investigating the PFAS issue but the Government had been heavily criticised for not responding to the recommendations from the second inquiry, chaired by Queensland Liberal MP Andrew Laming.
Mr Laming's inquiry gathered evidence with a hearing in Katherine in July 2018.
Defence agreed to settle three class actions from Katherine, Williamtown and Oakey in the same week.
That settlement will provide some form of compensation for about 2500 property owners in Katherine.
It its 28-page response to the Laming inquiry, the government again dodged the question of direct compensation.
"It is open to any individual or business who believe they have suffered loss or damage, as a consequence of Government activities, to submit a legal claim directly to the relevant agency or department."
Fewer than 20 residents in the Katherine region are believed to have taken that route, most of them are believed to be still waiting for a response after years of waiting.
This latest government statement also repeats the previous advice on potential health impacts from the PFAS.
"... while exposure to PFAS probably has minimal impact on human health, as a precaution, people living in PFAS contaminated areas should minimise their exposure to PFAS until more evidence is gathered on possible health effects".
The government says the Health Department is updating its information on potential health effects "as new information has become available and will continue to review scientific evidence both nationally and internationally in relation to the human health effects of PFAS through its established monitoring systems".
This latest statement also says Australian authorities are working closely with the US EPA on monitoring new research on PFAS.
The US EPA's health warnings on PFAS are very different from Australia.
"Studies indicate that PFOA and PFOS can cause reproductive and developmental, liver and kidney, and immunological effects in laboratory animals. Both chemicals have caused tumors in animals. The most consistent findings are increased cholesterol levels among exposed populations, with more limited findings related to low infant birth weights, effects on the immune system, cancer, thyroid hormone disruption."
The Australian government's statement said the Health Department had commissioned the ANU to undertake an epidemiological study into exposure levels and potential health effects of PFAS in Williamtown, Oakey, and Katherine "compared to a comparable non-exposed population".
That study is expected to be released at the end of this year.
"The Australian Government will continue to review scientific evidence both nationally and internationally in relation to the human health effects of PFAS," the statement says.
"The Government relies on advice from a range of health experts and expert health bodies.
"The Government works closely with state and territory counterparts, participates in international chemicals conventions, and monitors international action, to ensure its PFAS responses are consistent and in-step with recent developments and practices."
To encourage further research into the health effects of PFAS, the Government established a $11.7 million National Research Program into the Human Health Effects of Prolonged Exposure to PFAS.
Katherine medico Dr P.J. Spafford has been included on a panel reviewing research proposals.