Economy
Gunns to stop using 1080 poison … anonymous website attacks ‘deal’
Timber company Gunns has announced it will stop using 1080 poison in all its Tasmanian forests.
The company has used the poison for decades to stop native and feral animals from destroying its young plantation trees.
Gunns says it has developed new strategies for protecting its plantations, which do not involve the lethal poison.
The announcement comes after last month’s resignation of long-serving chairman, John Gay, and months of financial problems for the company.
Gunns’ spokesman Ian Blanden says the decision reflects a more community-oriented approach for the company.
“There has been community dissatisfaction with the use of 1080 in the past, that’s acknowledged by us and it’s a recognition and taking on board of some of those community views,” he said.
Environmental groups have welcomed the news.
Wilderness Society spokesman Vica Bayley says the decision might signal a change of direction for Gunns.
“This is a really significant step forward for Gunns as a company, it hopefully heralds a new era where they’re listening to community concerns,” Mr Bayley said.
“So we do hope it translates and means that they are going to listen and hear community concerns around the Tamar Valley pulp mill, around their ongoing logging of native forest.”
1080 is said to kill thousands of native animals every year.
The Tasmanian Conservation Trust’s Peter McGlone believes the decision will save native wildlife.
“It will be a fantastic thing for all of the native browsing animals out there. There will be tens of thousands of wallabies and possums that will not get killed by poison, as a result of this decision.”
Meanwhile Gunns’ share price has more than doubled since John Gay’s resignation.
Last month Gunns shares hit a 10-year low of 26 cents, shortly before Mr Gay announced his resignation.
The share price has closed for this week at 68 cents, up 18 cents for the week.
Financial Adviser Chris Elliot says investors have been encouraged by the resignation, but also Gunns’ expected profit increase.
“Those that have been against John Gay’s position have been selling out which was the reason for the fall in the stock more than anything else.
“The increase in the value in the stock price this week has a lot to do with the fact that there’s a recognition that the recent upgrade by the company is a positive,” Mr Elliott said.
Check out the Southern Star website, HERE
Meanwhile, a new website — set up anonymously — attacks what it sees as a deal between Gunns and conservationists.
The website says:
In a simplistic rush to preserve the worlds best hardwood forests from the voracious wood chip industry, some Tasmanian conservationists have imagined a kindergarden solution involving trading peoples lives for high conservation forest.
The Tasmanian Wilderness Society … is on Gunns web site advertising the pulp mill. It’s a total betrayal of the community they were paid to protect. … Is The Wilderness Society being paid by Gunns, to use the name ‘TWS’ to promote the pulp mill? How can TWS claim to have improved the design of a Gunns pulp mill when FSC certification would do that anyway? Why have they betrayed the Tamar community, knowing section 11 has removed all our avenues of complaint? Why did TWS do a back-room deal with the same unethical investors that had spent the last five years in a law suit against TWS itself? These unethical investors had five AGM’s to complain about the Gunns 20 case yet remained silent. …
Why is forestry still fully subsidised and dominating all other land uses? … The Wilderness Society no longer have the support of the Tamar Valley community. I am urging ALL MEMBERS of The Wilderness Society, DO NOT RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP. Please, join one of the ethical grass roots groups that is working for Tasmanians. TWS is more concerned with the foreign banks and the unethical investors that own Gunns. This is not the domain of a ‘conservation’ group. Imagine if you had gone through 6 years of uncertainty, unable to sell-up and move out, only to be stabbed in the back by the very people you thought you could trust?
Tasmanian Times initially linked to the website, believing it is in the public interest for as much information on issues to be freely available, and on an assumption that the site author would reveal him/herself. This link has been removed, as, on reflection, linking to an anonymous website which is seeking to anonymously smear an organisation and an individual by association, is inappropriate.
What the Wilderness Society says about Gunns and 1080:
MEDIA RELEASE – 18 June 2010
GUNNS’ END TO 1080 POISON USE A WELCOME STEP FORWARD
The Wilderness Society today welcomed Gunns’ announcement that it would immediately end the use of the controversial poison 1080 in all its forestry operations and congratulated the company for this decision.
“The use of 1080 poison to kill native wildlife has been a big issue in the forest debate and the cause of significant community concern,” said Vica Bayley, spokesperson for the Wilderness Society.
“This move by Gunns to ban 1080 poison is a welcome step forward and hopefully signals a new era where the company listens to community concerns and takes real action to address those concerns.”
“We hope this represents a move to end all lethal methods of native wildlife control and should serve as an example to other land managers that alternatives to 1080 poison are available.”
“An end to all 1080 poison use in Tasmania is the logical next step for all land managers including other forestry companies and farmers.”
Congratulations should also go to conservation groups and individuals who have campaigned for decades for this outcome.
Duncan Kerr …
the hon DUNCAN KERR sc mp
Federal Member for Denison
MEDIA RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
18th June 2010
KERR WELCOMES GUNNS’ DECISION TO BAN USE OF 1080
Federal Labor member for Denison has welcomed the announcement from Gunns Limited Chief Executive Greg L’Estrange that the company would stop using 1080 poison as part of its Tasmanian forest operations, effective immediately.
Mr Kerr said “This is a most positive outcome and will be very welcome for many Tasmanians who have campaigned to see the end of the use of 1080. No matter where people stand on other forest issues no-one should hesitate to congratulate the new management on this good and important step forward”