Australian plaintiff Amanda Bradley, diagnosed with ovarian cancer after using talc in 2014, is part of Shine Lawyers’ class action in the Victorian Supreme Court against Johnson & Johnson over alleged cancer risks from talcum powder.

Bradley, now 45, joins a growing Australian suit alleging Johnson & Johnson talcum powder contributed to ovarian and other reproductive cancers.

Johnson & Johnson denies asbestos contamination and asserts talc products are safe, with Kenvue retaining certain liabilities outside the U.S. and Canada since its 2023 spinoff.

Mining often places talc near asbestos, raising contamination concerns and strengthening the link between asbestos exposure and mesothelioma.

Shine Lawyers’ Craig Allsopp says Australians feel betrayed by a trusted consumer product amid emerging safety concerns.

The class action contends Johnson & Johnson talc products were defective, unsafe, and negligently supplied due to potential asbestos contamination.

Plaintiffs argue the talcum powders were unfit for purpose and posed cancer risks, constituting negligence by the company.

University of Sydney epidemiology expert Tim Driscoll acknowledges asbestos–mesothelioma links and notes uncertainty about talc alone causing ovarian cancer, while stressing need for robust evidence of contamination.

Bradley herself believes her cancer is linked to asbestos-contaminated talc, a view reinforced by a documentary she watched after diagnosis.

The case echoes high-profile litigation, including a 2018 US jury award of $6 billion to 22 women claiming ovarian cancer from talcum powder, underscoring ongoing public and legal attention.

Kenvue and Johnson & Johnson vow a vigorous defense, highlighting extensive regulatory reviews and testing that purportedly support talc safety.

Johnson & Johnson stopped selling talc-based baby powder in Australia in 2023 to switch to cornstarch-based products, while repeatedly denying any cancer link.