Ernie Bridge loses mesothelioma fight LEGAL ACTION: Former Labor MP Ernie Bridge was suing the State Government and companies owned by Australia's two richest woman over mesothelioma he contracted. MINISTERIAL DAYS: The father of four was WA's first Aboriginal MP and the first indigenous Cabinet minister in any Australian government. FORMER Labor MP Ernie Bridge has died after losing his battle with malignant mesothelioma and asbestosis less than two weeks after lodging legal action against mining companies he believed were responsible for his illness. Mr Bridge, 76, was a State member for the Kimberley between 1980 and 2001, and believed he was exposed to asbestos fibres and dust during visits to Wittenoom during his terms. As a minister from 1986 to 1993, he oversaw the closure of Wittenoom's mines and government services. At the time of his death, Mr Bridge was suing the Shire of Ashburton, CSR Limited, Midalco, Gina Rinehart's Hancock Prospecting and Angela Bennett's Wright Prospecting. The former Labor MP lodged a writ in the WA Supreme Court seeking damages for contracting malignant mesothelioma, asbestosis, pleural disease and respiratory degeneration. The father of four was WA's first Aboriginal MP and the first indigenous Cabinet minister in any Australian government. Premier Colin Barnett said recently that he was distressed to hear the Mr Bridge was unwell. "He might be from the opposite side of politics but Ernie has a huge following around the state," Mr Barnett said last month. Former WA premier Peter Dowding said recently that Mr Bridge had visited asbestos-affected areas such as Point Samson, Roebourne and Wittenoom many times while he was an MP. "Even the Point Samson school camp building had asbestos in it because it used to be used for storing the asbestos before it was shipped out," Mr Dowding told Fairfax Radio. He said when he recently visited Mr Bridge he did not look ``flash" but was ``surprisingly chipper." Lawyer Simon Millman, who was representing Mr Bridge, said recently that his firm had run hundreds of cases for asbestos victims from the area. The number of people filing for compensation showed no sign of dropping off, he said.