In December 2024, the Australian Government agreed to a key recommendation within the PFAS Independent Review to establish a PFAS National Coordinating Body.

The National Coordinating Body will have oversight of 3 working groups, established across 3 key Defence bases. The working group model was recommended by the PFAS Independent Review as the best model to go forward and synchronise a national response.

The Williamtown Working Group was the first to establish in November 2025, in Williamtown NSW. This working group will serve as a pilot to inform future PFAS working groups, to be established by the end of 2026 in Northern Territory and Queensland:

  • Katherine Working Group – RAAF Base Tindal, NT
  • Oakey Working Group – Swartz Barracks, SA.

Defence will provide the secretariat resourcing for the PFAS National Coordinating Body and the subsidiary working groups.

For more information visit:

Contacts

pfas.secretariat@defence.gov.au