Robin Gray retires from Gunns board but maintains control of major subsidiary

The Wilderness Society Inc
Media Release
6 May 2010

Today's retirement of Gunns Ltd Director and ex-Premier Robin Gray should have signalled an end to a dark era in Tasmania's history, but instead it is being used as a smokescreen to divert attention from his appointment to a major subsidiary of the company, The Wilderness Society said.

"Sadly, it is business as usual at Gunns. The company may have been wishing Robin Gray's retirement from the Gunns Board would convince Tasmanians and investors that it was now a modern, sustainable timber company," said Paul Oosting pulp mill and corporate campaigner for The Wilderness Society.

"Instead, Robin Gray will now run a part of Gunn's business that manages all the destructive, old business approaches of the company, including the pulp mill.

"This won't do anything to improve the companies relationship with investors or the environment movement. Gunns shareholders have a fiduciary responsibility to improve the governance of Gunns and set a new direction for the industry," said Mr Oosting.

For 30 years Robin Gray has driven conflict in Tasmania and pushed projects against the will of the community and against the best interests of job creation and Tasmania's economy.

· In 1982, Premier Robin Gray said he would 'develop' Tasmania by damming the Franklin and referred to the area as a 'leech ridden ditch'.

· In 1988 whilst Robin Gray was Premier companies Noranda and North Ltd said they would build a massive, polluting pulp mill at Wesley Vale.

· In 2004, with Robin Gray as a Director Gunns said they would build a pulp mill in the Tamar Valley.

None of the projects Robin Gray has pushed have happened because environmentalists and the community have stood up for Tasmania's clean-green future.
"Robin Gray should have no further involvement with Gunns or the logging industry so that a new direction can be set for Tasmania that is sustainable for jobs and the environment," said Mr Oosting.