Gunns' shareholders seek radical shake up. Tasmanians call for an end to native forest logging.

Gunns Chairman, John Gay, and Director, Robin Gray (former Tasmanian Premier), took steps last week to try and entrench a ‘business as usual' approach at Gunns Ltd - Australia's largest export woodchipper - by cementing the timber company's destructive business practices and advancing the proposed Tamar Valley pulp mill.

The Wilderness Society believes the move to allow Mr Gay to run another company - Southern Star - with the polluting pulp mill at its helm, is simply the same old business methods dressed up with a different name.

Shareholder backlash

The Australian Financial Review reported that Charlie Lanchester, a portfolio manager at Gunns' single-biggest shareholder Perpetual, said it was not acceptable for Mr Gay and Mr Gray to retain close links to Gunns.

"They [Gunns] have intended for them to retire, however, their continued involvement in important subsidiaries is unacceptable," Mr Lanchester said. "The company and its shareholders will be better served by fresh leadership at the board level."

State push for shift to existing plantations

Tasmanians want an end to the destruction of the state's natural heritage assets. Island wide, there is a call for Gunns to shift to a sustainable business model which requires an end to the out-dated and damaging business practices peddled by Mr Gay.

In 2010, there is strong evidence that forest protection, job growth and a vibrant timber industry can go hand-in-hand.

Establish sustainable and socially acceptable Gunns management

The Wilderness Society would support a new Board of Gunns that is willing to work constructively and in good faith to reform the logging operations of Gunns Ltd and set the organisation on a path to foster social license with the whole community.