Response to reporting by the Townsville Bulletin on release of preliminary sampling testing

Defence wishes to correct the record in relation to the Townsville Bulletin article “Defence silent on water tests” of 17 August, that states that Defence is refusing to release the results of a draft report into whether traces of PFAS has been found in groundwater at RAAF Base Townsville.

This is incorrect. As stated in Defence’s response to the Bulletin all preliminary sampling conducted at RAAF Base Townsville has been completed.

Defence is reviewing the draft report and is conducting a thorough analysis of the data. Defence will provide the sampling results to Queensland authorities and will engage with the local community on these results at the earliest opportunity.