Add Category
Outback Queensland grazier Charlie Phillott, who took on one of Australia's largest banks and won, has died aged 88.
Key points:
Charlie Phillott rose to fame when he took on ANZ after his property was seized in the midst of drought
He received a formal apology from the bank
MPs and friends say Mr Phillott was a "great Australian" and a pioneer in his industries
Mr Phillott was a renowned tourism operator and cattle industry pioneer who rose to fame when ANZ-owned Landmark dramatically devalued his property due to drought in 2014.
The Winton cattle grazier was ordered off his Carisbrooke station, which had been in his family for 50 years, after the bank deemed it an "unviable risk", despite never missing a mortgage repayment.
His loan was one of thousands acquired by ANZ when it bought the Landmark loan book worth $2.3 billion in 2010.
The move sparked a personal battle with the bank and catapulted the "humble" grazier to national attention.
One year later ANZ handed back the property and formally apologised.
Federal MP Bob Katter, who campaigned alongside drought-stricken farmers whose properties were repossessed, said Mr Phillott was a "titan amongst men".
"If you got out your canvas and your easel and [painted] a picture of the perfect Australian ... it would have been Charlie Phillott," Mr Katter said.
"He was an ordinary person … but he was determined to solve the problems of Australia."
Mr Katter said Mr Phillott was initially reluctant to front the media to draw attention to his situation and that of other farmers.
"Charlie had given a written agreement that he would shut up if he walked off the property and went peacefully," Mr Katter said.
"He was a man of his word and didn't want to break that agreement to speak about how he was treated by the bank.
"He said he would pray to Jesus and think it over for a couple of days ... eventually said he would do it. The rest is history."
In 2018, the Royal Commission into Banking Services found ANZ did not behave fairly or responsibly towards Mr Phillott's case.
"I think the dealings were consistent, but I think they weren't fair and they weren't reasonable," the former head of ANZ's lending services Benjamin Steinberg said at the time.
Speaking outside the royal commission, Mr Phillott said he felt vindicated by the findings.
"I think people in the banks ... have to change their tack, it's important they treat people and their clients everywhere as human," Mr Phillott said.
Community man, tourism pioneer
Outback Queensland photographer and friend John Elliott said Mr Phillott was loved and adored across the region, especially for his work in the community.
"I didn't have a lot of home cooked meals in Winton and every Wednesday night, almost without fail, I'd get an invite to have dinner with Charlie and [his wife] Anne," he said.
Mr Elliott said Mr Phillott was known for his pioneering work in tourism, which he turned to as a way to generate income during the drought.
"Most Australians would love to visit the outback and that drove tourism into outback Queensland," Mr Elliott said.
"He was an amazing man. He is a man of faith and he had lots of friends that weren't of that weren't of that calling.
"He had an amazing ability to really stand up for what he believed in, but at the same time he would welcome other people's views.
"I think the world could do with a lot more of that."
Editor's note 31/01/23: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated Mr Phillott was 93 when he died.