Bernie Banton
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Bernard Douglas (Bernie) Banton OAM (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 working for the company James Hardie.
Banton suffered from asbestosis, mesothelioma and Asbestos-Related Pleural Disease (ARPD), which required him to carry an oxygen tank wherever he went.
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[edit] Other campaigning
In October 2007, in the midst of the 2007 federal election campaign, Banton expressed his disgust at Minister for Health Tony Abbott for not attending a pre-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.[1]
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.[2]
Bernie Banton died at his home on 27 November, just three days after the election.[3]
[edit] Honours
In the Queen's Birthday Honours of 13 June 2005, he was made a Member of the Order of Australia, "for service to the community, particularly as an advocate for people affected by asbestos-related illnesses".[4]
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.[5]
On 21 January 2009, a new asbestos diseases research institute at Sydney's Concord Repatriation General Hospital was named the Bernie Banton Centre.[6]
[edit] References
- ^ Doherty, Ben: Abbott adamant over Banton 'stunt', The Age, 31 October 2007.
- ^ Victorious Rudd Looks to the Future, ABC, 24 November 2007.
- ^ Asbestos battler Bernie Banton finds peace at last, The Age, 27 November 2007.
- ^ It's an Honour
- ^ Flags at half mast for Bernie Banton - The Sydney Morning Herald
- ^ "Kevin Rudd opens Bernie Banton asbestos diseases and research institute". The Australian. 2009-01-21. http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24942716-12377,00.html.
[edit] External links
- "Bernie and Karen Banton". Enough Rope (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). 2006-07-10. http://www.abc.net.au/tv/enoughrope/transcripts/s1679288.htm. Retrieved 2006-09-15.
- Miranda Wood (2004-12-19). "Bernie hopes for justice in time for Christmas". The Age. http://www.theage.com.au/news/National/Bernie-hopes-for-justice-in-time-for-Christmas/2004/12/18/1103312783973.html. Retrieved 2006-09-15.
- IMF biography
