19 December 2007
The Hon Peter Garrett MP
Minister for Environment, Heritage and The Arts
The Hon Stephen Smith MP
Minister for Foreign Affairs
The Australian Government will formally urge Japan to end the slaughter of whales in the Southern Ocean.
Japanese whaling vessels have already reached the Southern Ocean and are expected to kill as many as 935 minke whales, 50 threatened humpback whales and 50 endangered fin whales for so called “scientific research”.
Australia strongly believes that there is no credible scientific justification for the hunting of whales and is opposed to all commercial and “scientific” whaling.
That is why the Australian Government will step up efforts to end this senseless and brutal practice, using a range of diplomatic, legal and monitoring and surveillance initiatives.
Diplomatic Efforts with Japan
Australia will dramatically increase its diplomatic efforts with Japan.
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A Special Envoy on Whale Conservation will be appointed to convey our views to Japan and increase and strengthen dialogue at senior levels.
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In Tokyo, Australia will lead a coalition of anti-whaling countries in lodging a formal protest with the Japanese Government.
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The Foreign Minister and Environment Minister will also directly register their concerns with their Japanese counterparts.
International Whaling Commission
Australia will upgrade our efforts at the International Whaling Commission (IWC), the place where rules on the conservation and protection of whales are made.
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The Government will develop its own proposal for improving and modernising the IWC – which will include closing the loophole that allows for scientific whaling.
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We will work to build and strengthen the coalition of anti-whaling countries in
collaboration with our allies.
Legal Avenues
The Government is giving serious consideration to a range of options for international legal action against Japan.
Monitoring and Surveillance
Australia will also act to collect evidence of Japan’s whaling activities by monitoring the
Japanese whaling fleet using both aircraft and a surface vessel:
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An A319 aircraft, operated by the Australian Antarctic Division, will make several
surveillance flights during the whaling season.
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Monitoring and surveillance activities will also be undertaken using the Customs patrol boat the Oceanic Viking, which will be disarmed for this whaling surveillance activity.
The information obtained from the Government’s surveillance activities will be important for any legal action.
Australia values its extensive and mutually beneficial relationship with Japan. As in any close relationship there are some issues on which we cannot agree. One of the few issues on which we fundamentally disagree is Japan’s policy of undertaking so-called ‘scientific whaling’ in the face of widespread opposition from the Australian and international community.
Australia is determined to play a leading role in international efforts to stop Japan’s whaling practices.
ADAM SIDDIQUE (SMITH) (02) 6277 7500 / 0407 473 630
MARGOT MARSHALL (GARRETT) (02) 6277 7640 / 0418 624 847