Labor successfully steered a motion through the Senate last week ordering an inquiry through the Joint Standing Committee of Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade.

The Senate last week also has applied a deadline for the Federal Government’s response to PFAS contamination.

While the successful Greens/ALP motion this week specifically applied to Williamtown RAAF Base, it would set the policy for all base investigations, including the Tindal RAAF Base.

The Senate has called on the government to explain how it will address financial impacts from the Williamtown contamination scandal by February 5.

”The chaos and dysfunction that is playing out at PFAS contaminated Defence sites across Australia shows the Turnbull Government has no control or oversight of this issue,” Labor MPs Richard Marles, Gai Brodtmann and Malarndirri McCarthy said.

“We haven’t heard hide nor hair of the PFAS Taskforce since it was set up at the beginning of the year.

“And the Government’s promised “solution”, announced in May, has yet to materialise.

“Labor will not allow this divided and dysfunctional Turnbull Government to fail Australians with its inadequate response to PFAS contamination.

“Any solution must be a national solution and must address all 23 Defence sites.

“The Turnbull Government cannot cherry pick a solution for just one or two.

“Labor looks forward to the inquiry answering many of the questions asked by PFAS affected communities across Australia.”