Bernie Banton
Encyclopedia
Bernard Douglas Banton AM
(13 October 194627 November 2007) was an Australia
n 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 working for the company James Hardie
.
Banton suffered from asbestosis
, pleural mesothelioma and Asbestos
-Related Pleural Disease (ARPD), which required him to carry an oxygen tank wherever he went. The 2009 book Killer Company
opens with the true account of Bernie Banton.
Tony Abbott
calling him "a gutless creep
" for not attending an arranged meeting at Abbott's electorate office in Sydney to present the minister 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 Bernie represented the "great Australian trade union movement" and was a beacon of decency in his fight for compensation.
Bernie Banton died at his home on 27 November, just three days after the election.
, "for service to the community, particularly as an advocate for people affected by asbestos-related illnesses".
Banton's family accepted the NSW government
's offer of a state funeral
, which was held on 5 December 2007. Both the Australian and the NSW state flags were lowered to half mast that day on all NSW government buildings and establishments, as a mark of respect.
On 21 January 2009, a new asbestos diseases research institute at Sydney's Concord Repatriation General Hospital
was named the Bernie Banton Centre.
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(13 October 194627 November 2007) was an Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n 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 working for the company James Hardie
James Hardie
James Hardie Industries Ltd. is an industrial building materials company headquartered in Ireland and listed on the Australian Securities Exchange which specialises in fibre cement products. James Hardie manufactures and develops technologies, materials and processes for the production of building...
.
Banton suffered from asbestosis
Asbestosis
Asbestosis is a chronic inflammatory and fibrotic medical condition affecting the parenchymal tissue of the lungs caused by the inhalation and retention of asbestos fibers...
, pleural mesothelioma and Asbestos
Asbestos
Asbestos is a set of six naturally occurring silicate minerals used commercially for their desirable physical properties. They all have in common their eponymous, asbestiform habit: long, thin fibrous crystals...
-Related Pleural Disease (ARPD), which required him to carry an oxygen tank wherever he went. The 2009 book Killer Company
Killer Company
Killer Company: James Hardie Exposed is a 2009 Australian book by journalist Matt Peacock. The book documents how the use of harmful asbestos fibre in building materials produced by James Hardie Industries "led to the deaths of thousands of workers and customers, who were never informed of the...
opens with the true account of Bernie Banton.
Other campaigning
In October 2007, in the midst of the 2007 federal election campaign, Banton expressed his disgust at Minister for HealthMinister for Health and Ageing (Australia)
The Minister for Health and Ageing is a portfolio in the Government of Australia with the responsibility for national health policy. The current Minister for Health and Ageing is Nicola Roxon...
Tony Abbott
Tony Abbott
Anthony John "Tony" Abbott is the Leader of the Opposition in the Australian House of Representatives and federal leader of the centre-right Liberal Party of Australia. Abbott has represented the seat of Warringah since the 1994 by-election...
calling him "a gutless creep
Creep
Creep may refer to:* CREEP, the Committee for the Re-Election of the President, associated with the Watergate scandal of U.S. president Nixon's administration....
" for not attending an arranged meeting at Abbott's electorate office in Sydney to present the minister with a petition
Petition
A petition is a request to do something, most commonly addressed to a government official or public entity. Petitions to a deity are a form of prayer....
to include a mesothelioma drug on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme
Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme
The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme or PBS is a program of the Australian Government that provides subsidised prescription drugs to residents of Australia. The PBS ensures that all Australians have affordable and reliable access to a wide range of necessary medicines.-History:The PBS was established...
. Abbott, who had been in Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
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
Kevin Rudd
Kevin Michael Rudd is an Australian politician who was the 26th Prime Minister of Australia from 2007 to 2010. He has been Minister for Foreign Affairs since 2010...
paid special tribute to Banton, saying that Bernie represented the "great Australian trade union movement" and was a beacon of decency in his fight for compensation.
Bernie Banton died at his home on 27 November, just three days after the election.
Honours
In the Queen's Birthday Honours of 13 June 2005, he was made a Member of the Order of AustraliaOrder of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
, "for service to the community, particularly as an advocate for people affected by asbestos-related illnesses".
Banton's family accepted the NSW government
Government of New South Wales
The form of the Government of New South Wales is prescribed in its Constitution, which dates from 1856, although it has been amended many times since then...
's offer of a state funeral
State funeral
A state funeral is a public funeral ceremony, observing the strict rules of protocol, held to honor heads of state or other important people of national significance. State funerals usually include much pomp and ceremony as well as religious overtones and distinctive elements of military tradition...
, which was held on 5 December 2007. Both the Australian and the NSW state flags were lowered to half mast that day on all NSW government buildings and establishments, as a mark of respect.
On 21 January 2009, a new asbestos diseases research institute at Sydney's Concord Repatriation General Hospital
Concord Repatriation General Hospital
Concord Repatriation General Hospital , commonly referred to as simply Concord Hospital, is a major hospital in Sydney, Australia, located on Hospital Road in Concord...
was named the Bernie Banton Centre.