MP 'off with the pixies' backing Hardie

December 8, 2004 - 11:06AM
Wilson Tuckey ... defended James Hardie.

Wilson Tuckey ... defended James Hardie.

Firebrand Liberal MP Wilson Tuckey was off with the pixies when he made a spirited defence of asbestos products company James Hardie in parliament, a Labor MP said today.

Labor's Daryl Melham said no-one who was in the House of Representatives last night when Mr Tuckey made his comments agreed with him.

Mr Tuckey, a former minister, opposed a bill seeking to allow Australia's corporate watchdog to access legally privileged documents relating to James Hardie Industries, and accused parliament of picking on the company.

He said James Hardie had helped supply cheap housing to Australians and had employed many people, doing more good than harm.

"I think Wilson was off with the pixies," Mr Melham told reporters.

"I was in the chamber and I followed Wilson and he seemed to have a bee in his bonnet and I think he's over the top."

He said he did not believe Mr Tuckey's views were the views of the government.

"I don't blame the government for that. That's Wilson's views," he said.

"It was a pretty extraordinary attack. He seemed to be arguing why are we picking on James Hardie.

"Well, we're picking on James Hardie because there's been an investigation in NSW that's shown that James Hardie, for years, has ignored the material that it knew would result in people being hurt.

"What (Mr Tuckey) said last night was wrong. I didn't find anyone in the chamber, on either side, agreeing with him."

Liberal MP Bruce Baird rejected the idea the company had been picked on.

"The performance has been disgraceful. There's no question," he told reporters.

"It will be held up as one of the examples of moral ineptitude in terms of a corporation, to have the separation out so they're not liable for the compensation of the victims of asbestos."

Labor frontbencher Stephen Smith said it was impossible to treat James Hardie unfairly.

"I don't think it's possible to treat James Hardie unfairly, given their disgraceful conduct in this matter, given the absolutely outrageous way they've conducted themselves, without morality, without care, without concern," he said.

"They deserve everything they get from public policy and they deserve every bit of public odium."