The Wire

The Greens have called on NSW local councils, to boycott all James Hardie products for building and maintenance contracts, until its asbestos victims receive full compensation. The issue of compensation for victims of James Hardie remains unresolved, with proposals such as a taxpayer funded bailout being considered. The metal workers and building unions estimate that up to forty-thousand people – mostly home renovators –will contract an asbestos-related disease by 2040. They estimate that two out of every three houses in New South Wales still contain asbestos, an insulation material widely used before 1987. James Hardie manufactured asbestos materials between 1917 and 1987, and has come under attack recently after a commission found the company had been trying to avoid liability of victims of asbestos related diseases. Sylvia Hale, Greens MP, spoke to Michael Atkin about why a boycott was necessary to force James Hardie to pay full compensation.