Small Qld town takes Defence Dept to court

More than 400 fed-up southern Queenslanders are fighting the Department of Defence, seeking compensation estimated around $200 million, for years of exposure to toxic firefighting foam.

The foam used around an army aviation base at Oakey for decades contains perfluorooctane sulfonate and perfluorooctanoic acid, and has impacted about 4000 residents, Shine Lawyers said as they launched a class action on Tuesday.

The federal government claims there's no consistent evidence the chemicals harm humans but Shine says toxic chemicals near Oakey have spread into people's land, water, food sources and bloodstreams.

Residents say they are trapped, unable to sell contaminated properties and left fearing the effects on their children.

Damages would be determined by the court after hearing expert evidence, but Shine estimates they would total about $200 million.

The class action, which has been filed in the Federal Court in NSW, is expected to take about two years.