September 17, 2004
James Hardie holds its Annual General Meeting taking place at 9am, at the Marriott, Amsterdam Airport, Netherlands.

September 15, 2004
James Hardie held a 'Shareholders' Information Session' in Sydney, Australia. Unions and asbestos support groups protested in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide, and called on shareholders to assist in ensuring that James Hardie faces up to its legal and moral responsibilities. Click here to read a news story about the rallies.

July 14, 2004
James Hardie released a company statement proposing a statutory scheme which would reduce victim’s legal rights, introduce a one-size-fits-all fixed compensation amount and potentially transfer some of the company’s asbestos debt onto taxpayers.

March 2004
The NSW Government established a Special Commission of Inquiry, headed by Mr David Jackson.

December 31, 2004
Australia-wide ban on importing and using all forms of asbestos in the workplace was introduced.

March 2003
James Hardie separated the Australian company from the international group, cutting the lifeline for Australian creditors, including asbestos claimants. The Australian company also indemnified the Netherlands parent company against any claims arising from of connected with past asbestos liabilities, without notifying the relevant authorities in Australia.

October 2001
James Hardie gained NSW Supreme Court approval for the establishment of a new Netherlands-based parent company and the transfer of A$1.9 billion ($1.3 billion) from Australia to its company in the Netherlands.

February 2001
James Hardie established the Medical Research and Compensation Fund, which assumed liabilities for its asbestos producing subsidiaries. The fund was set up with A$293 million ($202 million).

1995 – 2000
James Hardie sought to separate its Australian operating assets from its asbestos liabilities.

1969 – 2001
More than A$2 billion ($1.4 billion) was transferred to James Hardie from its asbestos producing subsidiaries.

1982
James Hardie ceased manufacturing asbestos fibro boards, however still had stockpiles of the product that were to last until approximately 1987. Prior to 1982, an estimated one in three domestic dwellings in Australia was constructed with products containing asbestos.

1978
James Hardie placed the first-ever warning label on asbestos products.

1974
First widespread public warning of the dangers of blue asbestos was featured in 'Is This Killer In Your Home?’, the cover story of the Bulletin, an Australian news and current affairs journal.

1950s
Employees of James Hardie brought concerns to management of the company concerning the dangers of asbestos, both to employees and product users.

1943
The link between asbestos and cancer was confirmed by a report from a laboratory in New York, USA.

1939
Western Australia Commissioner of Public Health and Chief Inspector of Factories found respiratory disorders among James Hardie workers.

1937
The Hardie Group was structured so that subsidiary entities were the manufacturers and suppliers of asbestos products.

1935
A Western Australian Factories and Shops Inspector reported on the effect of asbestos dust on the lungs of workers in the James Hardie factory in Perth.

1927
The disease, Asbestosis, was given its name.

1926
A sick asbestos worker filed the first successful claim for compensation to the Massachusetts Industrial Accidents Board in the U.S.

1918
Prudential Insurance Company in the U.S. produced an actuarial study showing premature death in the asbestos industry. Other companies began increasing premiums and refusing insurance.

1898
British factory safety inspector expressed concern about the ‘evil effects’ of asbestos.

Sources:
www.safetyline.wa.gov.au
www.smarta.com.au/asbestos
www.hazards.org/asbestos
Australian Council of Trade Unions