Statement: Mr Bill Whiley

9th Aug 04

Mr ORGAN (Cunningham) (1.59 p.m.) — Last Thursday evening, Bill Whiley, a dear friend of mine, died from mesothelioma. I will be speaking more about Bill later in the week. Bill was a former Communist Party councillor on Broken Hill Council, and I had the privilege to know him in association with the Sandon Point Aboriginal tent embassy and community picket. Bill was a fighter to the last. The first thing he ever said to me was, `If you don't fight, you lose.' I am very saddened by Bill's passing and very honoured to have known him. As I said, he was down here last December lobbying me on behalf of the Combined Pensioners and Superannuants Association and, unfortunately, mesothelioma took him very quickly in the last couple of months. I look forward to the opportunity to speak further on Bill Whiley later in the week.