The Queensland government has moved to ban toxic fire-fighting foam at the centre of a Defence base water contamination scare.
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The recall and ban would not affect the foam's use or storage at Commonwealth-owned facilities, such as the Oakey army and aviation base where problems first surfaced in Queensland.
But it's understood the Australian Defence Force and Airservices Australia told the state government the chemicals were no longer in use at Defence bases or airports in Queensland.
On Friday, state Environment Minister Steven Miles said Defence had an "incredible moral duty" to do the right thing after contaminating groundwater in Oakey, a rural town about 140km west of Brisbane.
"We would call on the Commonwealth to do everything they can to be a real `model polluter', if it were, to support the people of Oakey and do what they should do," Dr Miles said.
Some residents of the Darling Downs town were left with chemical levels of perfluorinated chemicals, used in some non-stick cookware and water-proofing sprays, 44 times the national average.
Remnants of the same foam have also been found at the Brisbane and Gold Coast airports.
Toowoomba Regional Council admitted contaminated bore water had been used to top up water for about 5000 residents in Oakey for four years after it was treated and made safe for consumption.
Environment Minister Steven Miles on Friday announced perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) would be banned.
"The government will require that any existing stocks of foams containing PFOS and PFOA are withdrawn from service at commercial and industrial premises, and similar products phased out and replaced, as soon as practicable with more sustainable alternatives," he said.
"This policy is about doing what is right for current and future generations based on the growing knowledge of these chemicals that we have today.
"EHP will monitor compliance with this policy at business facilities where Queensland laws apply."
However, a spokesman confirmed the government was powerless to control the use or storage of the chemicals on Commonwealth-owned land, such as Defence bases and major airports.
Dr Miles said the government didn't want to see the foam continue to be used at any facility in Queensland and congratulated organisations such as the state's firefighters, which discontinued its use in 2003.
"Over coming months, the government will work with ports and bulk fuel storage facilities to ensure they fully understand the government's new strict policy," he said.
"Businesses failing to comply with the policy to replace such stocks will face enforcement action. Businesses that supply or replenish portable extinguishers will also need to comply with the policy."
Comment has been sought from the department.
Oakey residents are demanding compensation, saying they can't sell properties affected by the contamination and hold serious concerns for their health.
The federal government has already committed $55 million from its defence budget to cleaning and managing the toxic chemicals, funding blood tests and counselling services.
- With AAP
