Company accuses investigators of bias in Australian probe.(International)

Byline: ELIZABETH FRY

SYDNEY, Australia-The Commission of Inquiry into the asbestos compensation fund set up by James Hardie Industries N.V. has become steeped in controversy even before the formal hearing begins this week.

James Hardie contends that a paper the commission circulated late last month indicates it has already concluded the asbestos manufacturer acted improperly.

The paper and other documents issued by the commission also raise questions about the information that was made available to the fund and its actuaries at the time it was established to meet James Hardie's ongoing asbestos-related liabilities.

James Hardie, a building products company that relocated from Australia to the Netherlands in 2001, claims it left a sufficient …