GUNNS' end to 1080 poison use a welcome step forward

The Wilderness Society (Tasmania) Inc
Media Release
18 June 2010

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.