BOWMAN MP Andrew Laming who chaired an inquiry into toxic firefighting foam has been removed from his position after controversially reporting findings in support of residents, at odds with the Morrison government.
In an emotional speech to Parliament in December, Mr Laming described the stories of people whose lives have been blighted by PFAS contamination, including Williamtown red zone residents, as "graphic" and "horrifying".
In a shock departure from Coalition's policies on PFAS contamination, he called on the federal government to compensate people whose property values have been devastated by the contamination.
Mr Laming's stand has been strongly lauded.
PFAS is a chemical used in many products. It is believed most people in developed countries have some PFAS in their bodies. The issue came to light in south-east Queensland after its widespread use in firefighting foam by defence personnel at Oakey on the Darling Downs.
Doctors argue the chemical is linked to a range of health issues, including cancer. It also has been used at sites ranging from the Northern Territory to New South Wales.
In a letter to Mr Laming on Tuesday, residents from Williamtown, NSW, Oakey, in Queensland, and Katherine, in the NT, called for immediate action.
It was also confirmed on Tuesday that Mr Laming was not re-appointed to the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade that held the inquiry and he is no longer chair of its PFAS sub-committee.
His office declined to answer questions about the government's inaction on the PFAS inquiry findings and Mr Laming's removal from the committee, instead forwarding them to the ministers for environment and defence.
The inquiry - conducted by eight Labor, three Liberal and one Greens MP - was formed to examine the Morrison government's response to contamination surrounding defence land.
Coalition Against PFAS president Lindsay Clout said it was astounding that Mr Laming, considered by residents as the solution to their problem, had been sidelined.
"He listened to us, recognised and acknowledged the problem," Mr Clout said. "Now he's been removed.
"What other conclusion can we draw besides that he's been silenced on the issue because the government doesn't like what he had to say."
Mr Laming was recruited to the inquiry because he is a doctor. The inquiry's recommendations stopped short of calling for compensation for health effects from PFAS exposure, but called on authorities to "acknowledge the potential links to certain medical conditions".
In the face of criticism from leading Australian doctors, the government has denied a link between PFAS exposure and health effects.
"We would sincerely hope that in having the conviction to speak out for communities impacted by PFAS contamination, Mr Laming has not been subject to political pay back," Mr Clout said.
"The only tangible development since the report was released in December 2018 is Defence Department officials confirming they have set aside more than $50 million in legal fees to take on communities who are now forced to go to court to fight against the contamination."
On Monday the Senate formally called on the federal government to respond to a PFAS parliamentary inquiry.
In December, Mr Laming told Parliament no family should be trapped on contaminated land. "Justice delayed is justice denied," he said.
Nothing happened.
The residents' letter to government says: "What is most chilling, is that this inaction appears to be more by design than disinterest."
It is unclear who is now chairing the committee's PFAS sub-committee.
Mr Clout said the government could not continue to ignore the inquiry findings.
"If it was a corporation or business liable for this toxic contamination, and not the Defence Department, does anyone seriously think the federal government would be seeking to protect them?" he said.
"The irony of a recently elected prime minister consistently attacking other political parties that don't take a unified stance on matters of national importance is not lost on us."
