Bernie Banton
| Bernie Banton AM | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
Bernard Douglas Banton October 13, 1946 Parramatta, New South Wales |
| Died |
November 27, 2007 (Aged 61)West Pennant Hills, New South Wales |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Known for | Social justice campaigner, face of the victims of Asbestos-related diseases |
| Spouse(s) | Karen Banton |
| Children | Melinda Banton, Adam Banton, Brent Banton, Christopher Banton and Dean Banton |
| Awards | Member of the Order of Australia, 2007 NSW Senior Australian of the Year, Recipient of the keys to Parramatta City, Bernie Banton Bridge named in his honour |
November 27, 2007
Bernard Douglas (Bernie) Banton AM (13 October 1946 – 27 November 2007) was an Australian social justice campaigner. He was the widely recognised face of the legal and political campaign to achieve compensation for the many sufferers of asbestos-related conditions, which they contracted after either working for the company James Hardie or being exposed to James Hardie Industries' products.
Bernie himself suffered from asbestosis, Asbestos-Related Pleural Disease (ARPD) and then finally peritoneal mesothelioma. These conditions required him to carry an oxygen tank wherever he went. The 2009 book Killer Company details Banton's fight against James Hardie.
Banton brought an action against Amaca Pty Ltd before the Dust Diseases Tribunal of New South Wales.
In October 2007, in the midst of the 2007 federal election campaign, Banton expressed his disgust at Minister for Health Tony Abbott, calling him "a gutless " for not attending an arranged meeting at his electorate office in Sydney to be presented with a petition to include a mesothelioma drug on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. Abbott, who had been in Victoria at the time, dismissed the petition as a "stunt" and implied that, despite his illness, Banton's motives were not "pure of heart". Abbott later apologised, but did not back away from his criticism.
In his victory speech on 24 November after winning the election, the Prime Minister-elect Kevin Rudd paid special tribute to Banton, saying that he represented the "great Australian trade union movement" and was a beacon of decency in his fight for compensation.
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