Make James Hardie pay!
Asbestos victims, widows and families joined an angry protest of over 4000 trade unionists at Sydney's Darling Harbour on September 15 to demand justice from James Hardie. "Hardie's products killed people. Hardies should pay for that", said Bernie Banton, Acting Secretary of the victims' group, the Asbestos Diseases Foundation of Australia (ADFA). Members of the CFMEU, AMWU, MUA and other unions who rallied outside a James Hardie Special Information Meeting are demanding full payment by the company of all current and future compensation claims for asbestos related illnesses and deaths. Speakers were Bernie Banton, Greg Combet from the ACTU, AMWU State Secretary Paul Bastian, Andrew Ferguson from the CFMEU, MUA State Secretary Robert Coombs and long time ADFA patron and ALP candidate Peter Garrett. One speaker drew a strong response when he pointed out James Hardie has not been punished for killing people for over 60 years — but the decision to stop work to demand justice for Hardie's victims is illegal. James Hardie was Australia's largest producer of products containing asbestos. James Hardie knew that their product was killing workers for 50 years before they finally stopped production. In 2001 the company and its assets were moved to the Netherlands, beyond the reach of asbestos victims. At least $1.9 billion was moved out of Australia. Now the company is saying some of this money will be brought back — but only if the right of victims to compensation is limited by governments. Victims and workers refuse to accept this. They are demanding details of Hardie's recent proposal for a statutory scheme to replace the current system in NSW. "We believe their scheme will just deny victims fair compensation," Bernie Banton said. "It's nothing more than a taxpapyer subsidy to James Hardie, transferring wealth from its victims to its shareholders." The proposed scheme makes no reference to the huge insurance policies held by James Hardie. "Why should Hardie's insurers be allowed be allowed to collect premiums from the company and invest these for great profit, and then not be expected to cover their insurance liabilities?" Paul Bastian asked. "It's a windfall for Hardie and their insurers."