Bernie Banton

Bernie Banton
AM
Born
Bernard Douglas Banton

(1946-10-13)13 October 1946
Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia
Died27 November 2007(2007-11-27) (aged 61)
West Pennant Hills, New South Wales, Australia
NationalityAustralian
Occupation(s)Builder
Social justice campaigner
Years active1966–2007
Known forAdvocate for victims of Asbestos-related diseases
SpouseKaren Banton
AwardsMember of the Order of Australia
2007 NSW Senior Australian of the Year

Bernard Douglas Banton AM (13 October 1946 – 27 November 2007) was an Australian builder and, later, social justice campaigner for asbestos-related diseases. 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 either working for the company James Hardie or being exposed to James Hardie Industries' products.

Banton himself suffered from multiple forms of asbestos-related diseases, being diagnosed with asbestosis and also asbestos-related pleural disease (ARPD)[1] in January 1999 after having worked at James Hardie Industries, decades earlier, making asbestos lagging. These conditions required him to carry an oxygen tank wherever he went.

On the 17 August 2007, Banton was also diagnosed with terminal peritoneal mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of the abdomen most commonly associated with asbestos exposure, dying 103 days later. The 2009 book Killer Company details Banton's fight against James Hardie.[2]

Banton brought an action against Amaca Pty Ltd before the Dust Diseases Tribunal of New South Wales.[3]

  1. ^ Asbestos Related Pleural Disease (ARPD)
  2. ^ Angela Welsh. Review: Killer Company Archived 21 February 2011 at the Wayback Machine The Walkley Foundation, 27 October 2009.
  3. ^ "Banton v Amaca Pty Ltd [2007] NSWDDT 29". Lawlink.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 19 June 2014.