I know have wondered why Alcoa came out publicly. I think the reason is that from the company perspective it is the best way to proceed. It makes it look like they're proactive; it looks like they're an upstanding corporate citizen. The public will think Alcoa is a good company. From the company point of view, Alcoa knows this is going to come out eventually—it's inevitable, so better that they say it first. They've taken a profit estimation that it will cost them less in the long run.
"One thing about Alcoa at Point Henry in the last 14 years is that they have played it very hard about their public image. That is all it is—image. They go and plant some trees outside, while meanwhile they rip out all the bush in Western Australia and leave behind devastation.
"As for contract workers, Alcoa hasn't notified contract workers at all. The company only has records since 1983. The real test of the unions will be when this gets further down the road, when it becomes clear how many workers have cancer. What will be the unions' position then? Alcoa has made excellent profits all this time. Are the unions going to challenge the company's profits? When will we get down to the truth?"