VTHC Media Release
Vale Bernie Banton, a true Australian hero
Wednesday Nov 28
Bernie Banton has died.
The tireless anti-asbestos campaigner
passed away peacefully in his sleep at 1am Tuesday morning. He was 61.
Ironically, Bernie's death coincides with Asbestos Awareness Week in Victoria and NSW.
Bernie Banton became the face of the union campaign
Make James Hardie Pay for the treatment and support of asbestos victims throughout the country.
Mr Banton was a proud member of the AMWU and worked closely with unions on the ACTU campaign. Even after reaching a settlement with Hardie’s he continued to speak out and support other sufferers in receiving fair compensation from the company.
He campaigned right up until his death to see justice for asbestos disease sufferers, most recently shaming former Health Minister Tony Abbott into fast-tracking approval of the mesothelioma treatment drug, Alimta.
VTHC Secretary
“Bernie Banton was a tireless campaigner for those suffering asbestos diseases. His example will live on and his legacy will be the great success he had in holding James Hardie and its directors accountable for their actions.”
Bernie Banton worked for James Hardie
Industries in the 1960s and 70s where he was exposed to asbestos daily. He had lived with asbestosis and asbestos-related pleural disease for many years. In August this year he was diagnosed with mesothelioma, to which he finally succumbed on Tuesday morning.
Mr Banton has been described by friends and colleagues as a true Australian hero for his contribution to setting up the fund to compensate victims of asbestos.
He will be honoured with a State funeral in NSW on Wednesday 5 December.
Meanwhile, the thousands of victims of asbestos diseases have been remembered in ceremonies this week, in
Read more on the OHS Reps website.