BASE’S TOXIC SECRET

Defence Force kept contamination quiet for four months

THE contamination of two underground bores with toxic chemicals at HMAS Cairns has been kept secret by the Australian Defence Force for four months.

The Weekend Post can today reveal underground water samples taken from the Cairns Navy base in May confirmed the presence of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA).

The chemicals have been linked to a widespread contamination scandal at Defence bases and civilian airports around Australia.

Human exposure to the toxins has been linked to pregnancy developmental issues, testicular and kidney cancers as well as thyroid, liver tissue and immune system damage.

The Cairns Post on Monday revealed the chemicals – which were historically used in firefighting foams – had also contaminated parts of Cairns Airport, with tests in 2008 confirming their presence.

The contamination detected at HMAS Cairns just four months ago, however, has local politicians and even Defence personnel demanding answers.

A Defence spokesman waited almost two weeks to respond to questions from the

Post about whether HMAS Cairns had been tested for contamination.

The three-paragraph response admitted the chemicals were detected in May after “periodic” sampling and said Defence was expecting a report on the contamination to be completed within six weeks.

“Once this report is received, Defence will provide further advice to the local and state authorities,” the spokesman said.

So far, however, Defence had kept the discovery under wraps – even from HMAS Cairns personnel. Personnel contacted by the Post yesterday knew nothing of the contamination.

Member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch said official secrecy over the contemination was “very concerning” and very poor practice.