About 250 people turned out for the Shine Lawyers meeting in Katherine last night.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
It was a huge turnout at the Godinymayin Yijard Rivers Arts & Culture Centre.
Several hundred Katherine residents have already registered their interest in pursuing the Department of Defence for compensation over the chemical contamination of their water.
Despite a poor turnout of fewer than 20 people for the hastily organised meeting with Maddens Lawyers in Katherine on Monday night, there was a strong roll-up for the Shine Lawyers presentation.
Aside from genuine fears about health impacts from a life-long exposure to PFAS, many of them claim their homes and properties are now virtually worthless.
The two law firms propose to launch a class action against the Defence Department.
The Defence Department freely admits it has caused the PFAS contamination through its use of firefighting foams at the Tindal RAAF Base between 1998 and 2004.
The department has also said it would defend any legal action.
Although similar class actions are more advanced at Oakey and Williamtown, none have reached court yet.
Chris McLennan
ACM national rural property writer based in Bacchus Marsh, Victoria. Career journalist. Multi award winner.
ACM national rural property writer based in Bacchus Marsh, Victoria. Career journalist. Multi award winner.
