By Karl Hoerr -
They’re called ‘forever chemicals’ and U.S. lawyer Robert Bilott probably knows more about PFAS than most.
At a time of continuing concern about the presence of ‘perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances’ in the environment, including here in Australia, Bilott is just weeks away from appearing at the Law Society’s Annual Conference in Sydney.
He took up the fight for communities affected by this group of chemicals, revealing an unprecedented scale of contamination.
PFAS compounds have been used in a large number of household products, as well as some types of firefighting foam.
Law Society President Brett McGrath believes Bilott’s story shows the important role lawyers can play in achieving just outcomes for clients.
“The majority of people who chose law as a career do so with a motivation to make a difference and help effect lasting positive change in their communities,” he says.
“Rob Bilott has lived those values through his decades’ long legal battle on behalf of tens of thousands of people who have been adversely affected by exposure to PFAS.”
Bilott’s book Exposure was the basis for the 2019 film Dark Waters.
Bilott says the story shows how lawyers and litigation can help spur momentous changes.
“I am honoured to participate in this important conference where we can explore how we used the legal system in the United States as a catalyst for raising awareness and understanding of how these man-made toxins threaten human health and the environment,” he says.
In Australia, the Commonwealth settled a series of class actions in 2020, over pollution caused by toxic firefighting chemicals near three military bases.
The pollution had caused the properties of residents to lose value and the settlement was for $212.5 million.
In August, elevated levels of PFAS were detected at a dam in the Blue Mountains.
The dam was disconnected as a precaution and Sydney Water said supplies from the Cascade water filtration plant were safe.
The Greens are calling for a parliamentary inquiry into the issue, after more recent reports of PFAS levels more than 50 times higher than Australian drinking water standards, flowing into the dam.
Tickets to the Law Society of NSW Annual Conference on 10-11 October are available here.
