MEDIA RELEASE

NICK XENOPHON M.L.C.

INDEPENDENT NO POKIES MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

23 October 2004

MAKE JAMES HARDIE EXECS CLEAN THE BED-PANS OF ASBESTOS VICTIMS

Following the muti-million dollar payouts to James Hardie executives yesterday, No Pokies MLC Nick Xenopohon – a Patron of the Asbestos Victims Association of SA – has called for James Hardie executives to be subjected to a community service order, that would involve caring for and cleaning  terminally ill asbestos victims.

Australia has the world’s highest per capita incidence of the deadly asbestos related lung cancer, mesothelioma. It is estimated that up to 2500 South Australians will die from asbestos related illnesses in the next 20 years. Over 50,000 Australians are expected to be diagnosed with asbestos-related disease between now and 2020.

“Some people may be disgusted by the idea- but it’s nowhere near as disgusting as dying an excruciating death from mesothelioma”.

“We need to reassess the concept of corporate responsibility in Australia – sometimes signing a cheque just isn’t enough, sometimes executives need to be confronted in a very direct way with the human consequences of their decisions”.

Mr Xenophon called on State Premiers, particularly Bob Carr and Mike Rann (who is also a Patron of the Asbestos Victims Association) to support the move.

“It’s important that these executives are forced to literally clean up the mess that they’ve created – maybe only then will they understand that this is more than an accounting exercise on a balance sheet.”

Written and authorised by Nick Xenophon, 653 Lower North East Road, Paradise, SA 5075