Broken trust Gina: Mythmaking – episode 6
May 11, 2025
In this conversation with Bernard Lagan, a seasoned journalist for The Times, the focus is on the complex legacy of Australia's mining history. They dissect Lang Hancock's controversial origins in blue asbestos mining at Wittenoom and its devastating health impacts. The haunting stories of former residents seeking justice add depth to this narrative. They also tackle the Hancock family's dual legacy, celebrating their successes while confronting the darker repercussions of their mining ventures, including the cultural toll on Indigenous communities.
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Wittenoom's Industrial Scale And Harm
- Wittenoom became Australia's largest blue asbestos export site under CSR, producing massive tailings and long-term harm.
- The site later became synonymous with thousands of deaths from mesothelioma and environmental contamination.
Hancock's Early Asbestos Operation
- Lang Hancock and Peter Wright started mining blue asbestos at Wittenoom in the 1930s and set up a small operation by 1938.
- They sold a majority stake to CSR in 1943 and fully exited by 1948, though Lang remained involved earlier.
Warnings Long Preceded Closure
- Evidence about asbestos harms accumulated decades before Wittenoom closed, including official warnings by the 1940s.
- CSR continued operations despite criticism, and closure in 1966 followed government health criticism and falling prices.
