40,000 Australians Join Class Action Against Defence Department Over Land Contamination

A Napa County firefighter sprays foam on hot spots from a fire at a mobile home park following a reported 6.1 earthquake on August 24, 2014 in Napa, California. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Over 40,000 Australians have joined a class-action suit against the Department of Defence for its use of toxic chemicals in fire-fighting foam and its poisonous effect on surrounding properties and life.

It’s the second action filed against the defence department. The first settled in February for a sum of $212.5 million (US$134.3 million).