Graham Perrett (Moreton, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Attorney-General. Would the Attorney-General update the House on what the government is doing to protect whales in the Southern Ocean?

Mark Dreyfus (Isaacs, Australian Labor Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Moreton for his question. I know he has a deep commitment to Queensland's tourism industry. Whale watching is an important part of tourism throughout Australia that employs thousands of people and brings great pleasure to visitors and locals. Last century—

Mr Robb interjecting—

Ms Anna Burke (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The Attorney-General will resume his seat. The member for Goldstein is not doing well. He has tested my patience beyond belief and I am going to ask him to leave the chamber under 94(a). It is not a tough call.

The member for Goldstein th en left the chamber.

Mr Pyne interjecting—

Order! The Manager of Opposition Business will join his friend under 94(a).

The member for Sturt th en left the chamber.

Mr Hockey interjecting—

Order! I am not finding it amusing and, if the member for North Sydney wants to try it, I am here for a trifecta. I could go a hat trick at this point in time. The Attorney-General has the call and has the right to be heard in silence.

Mark Dreyfus (Isaacs, Australian Labor Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Speaker. Last century commercial whaling decimated global whale populations. Two million whales were killed and some species were hunted almost to extinction. In the 1980s an international moratorium finally brought the slaughter to an end. We stepped back from the brink and now have a second chance to protect and learn about these magnificent creatures. Despite the moratorium, whales can still be hunted under special permit and more than 10,000 have been killed under Japan's so-called scientific whaling programs in the Southern Ocean since 1988.

Mr Fletcher interjecting—

Ms Anna Burke (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The member for Bradfield might be stopped in a minute.

Mark Dreyfus (Isaacs, Australian Labor Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

For more than 20 years Australian governments have tried through diplomacy to end Japan's whaling without success. When we came to office we promised to resolve the matter once and for all in the International Court of Justice and we are honouring that promise. Proceedings against Japan were initiated in 2010 and I can inform the House that tomorrow an expert legal team will start representing Australia and presenting our case before the court in The Hague in the final phase of proceedings.

Mr Tudge interjecting—

Mr Hunt interjecting—

Ms Anna Burke (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The members for Aston and Flinders are both warned.

Mark Dreyfus (Isaacs, Australian Labor Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Australian government will argue that Japan's so-called scientific whaling is contrary to its international obligations and must be brought to an end. Modern science can obtain the information we need to understand and protect whales without harming them. An example of this is that Australian scientists achieved a world first this year by attaching satellite tracking devices to Antarctic blue whales and minke whales. They will use this research to understand how whales feed and where they breed. Our scientists tell us that we still have a lot to learn about whale behaviour.

Of course, Japan is a friend and our nations agree that the International Court of Justice is the best place to resolve our differences. We have many differences with the coalition, but on this matter there is consensus across the political divide. I look forward to joining our legal team at the international court. I consider it an honour to represent our nation in this case. I know that all Australians look forward to the court's judgement, which we hope will bring to an end whaling in the Southern Ocean.