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Summer 2004

States and Territories Working Together on National Hardie Product Ban

All Premiers and Chief Ministers today stated their full support for the ACTU Secretary, Greg Combet, to lead negotiations with James Hardie.

The States and Territories are taking all immediate steps to implement a possible ban on the purchase of Hardie products, should it become necessary.

The ban will be implemented if James Hardie fails to agree in principle to a settlement with the ACTU and victims very soon.

The Jackson Commission of Inquiry Report into James Hardie's future asbestos related liabilities was released on September 21, 2004.

It is estimated that asbestos will kill 60,000 Australians as a result of work related exposure. This is the same number of Australians who died in WWI.

It is clear from the evidence presented to the NSW Inquiry into the restructuring of the company that James Hardie relocated to the Netherlands to minimise its liability to Australian victims of its asbestos products leaving only $290 million in Australia to compensate what is estimated to be $1-2 billion of liabilities.