As Richard Pratt approaches death, his trucking mate blames 'betrayal'

Close friends and family rallied around 74-year-old Mr Pratt yesterday, conducting a bedside vigil and saying their goodbyes to the son of Polish migrants and a man Premier John Brumby labelled a "great Australian".

Mr Fox, a friend of 44 years, said criminal action over price-fixing claims had taken its toll on the chairman of cardboard company Visy, especially as it had been instigated by a man who had been a guest in Mr Pratt's family home.

"One person really betrayed him - somebody that ate at his house, enjoyed his company. That certainly added to this premature situation," Mr Fox told The Age.

While he did not name him, it was clear that Mr Fox was referring to Graeme Samuel, the chairman of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, which launched criminal proceedings against Mr Pratt after he admitted to price fixing in 2007.

Asked if the stress of the legal battle may have contributed to a sharp deterioration in Mr Pratt's health, Mr Fox said that there was "no question about it".

Mr Fox, who has had his own run-ins with Mr Samuel, said that, of the two men, "one will be long remembered after one is long forgotten".

Mr Samuel last night declined to respond, telling The Age it would be unfortunate if a tragic situation "descended into a discourse that is totally inappropriate".

"This is a very tragic situation for (Mr Pratt's wife) Jeanne and the family. I feel for them. I think this is an absolutely inappropriate time to be getting into this sort of commentary," he said.

But he did refer to the personal toll of the long battle between the ACCC and Visy. "It has saddened me that the events of the last 4? years have adversely affected what had been a lengthy personal relationship with Richard Pratt, but that part of this whole process."

In 2007, Mr Pratt was convicted, along with the Visy Group, of colluding with competitor Amcor to fix prices for cardboard boxes. The Federal Court fined him and Visy $36 million - the biggest corporate fine in Australian history - following a cartel prosecution by the ACCC.

Mr Fox was one of many high-profile Australians to contact Mr Pratt yesterday after it emerged that his health had deteriorated dramatically.

Mr Pratt was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2006. A family spokesman said doctors had said, at best, he had only weeks to live.

A procession of well-wishers made their way through the wrought iron gates of his Kew mansion, including workers from the Visy empire, teary-eyed friends and Carlton footballers.

Carlton great Stephen Kernahan visited him yesterday, saying they met regularly to talk about the club over a coffee, but the realisation was already setting in that the chats were drawing to a close.

Kernahan who took over the presidency of the football club from Mr Pratt in June last year, after the Visy chief stood aside to fight charges of giving false evidence to the ACCC, said Mr Pratt was irreplaceable.

"You don't take over from Dick Pratt. He's a once-in-a-generation person and you can't fill his shoes, but we'll do the best we can," he said.

Mr Pratt's wealth is estimated at more than $5billion, but he is also well known for his philanthropy, giving large donations to charity and the arts.

A long-time employee of Visy vouched for his generosity yesterday, making a short visit to see his old boss and returning with tears in his eyes.

Dante Bastiani said he had worked for Visy for more than 50 years, and on his retirement his boss had given him a new car as a going-away present.

Visitors accept that he is seriously ill but say that he is conscious, coherent and still offering advice.

Born to Polish-Jewish parents, he migrated to Australia in 1938 and has risen to become the fourth-richest man in the nation, with Mr Brumby labelling him a "great Australian and a great Australian success story".

"He's a great story of a poor migrant who made good and built up a huge business and in the process I think helped build a stronger community as well," Mr Brumby said.

"He'll be remembered not just for the way in which he conducted his business and his involvement in public life but particularly through the foundation which he established."

"The Pratt Foundation, which his daughter Heloise runs, has provided so much support to just literally hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of worthy organisations over decades."

Federal Labor MP and former union heavyweight Bill Shorten, a long-time family friend of the Pratts, said his mate was highly respected by many in Victoria and Australia.