Media Release from Ipswich City Councillor Paul Tully
- James Hardie declared Australia's most disgraceful company after revealing plans to sue Queensland Council -
James Hardie has been declared Australia's most-disgraceful company after it was revealed it is suing Ipswich City Council to recover $195,000 the company paid to a former worker who was exposed to asbestos from the company's products.
In a bizarre twist to last year's successful legal claim against the company by a former council worker for exposure to asbestos, the company is now suing to recover the money from the Ipswich Council.
The worker - Anthony Cannon - was employed by Ipswich City Council for six weeks in 1976.
James Hardie settled the action but is now attempting to recover its payout to the worker.
Ipswich City Councillor Paul Tully, a 30-year veteran of local government, has blasted James Hardie claiming it is the "most-disgraceful, penny-pinching company in Australia".
Cr Tully said the company's latest tactic of trying to shift the legal blame from themselves to individual users of their asbestos products was a "national disgrace".
"This company has destroyed workers' lives across Australia and is now trying to find a scapegoat for the numerous legal actions which it has unsuccessfully defended.
"This company has been proven to have been grossly negligent with its asbestos products and is now attempting to pass the buck.
"Why should ratepayers have to fork out their money to pay for James Hardie's negligence.
"Local government will stand up to this company and fight these absurd claims."
Cr Tully called on the new directors of James Hardie to drop its legal action in the Queensland District Court as a sign of good faith that it finally accepts its responsibility to Australia's asbestosis sufferers.
PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au
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