John Faulkner (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Cabinet Secretary) Share this | Hansard source

I think the matters contained in at least the latter part of your question would not ordinarily be handled by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, although he might have knowledge of them. My colleague the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts has primary responsibility in relation to the IWC. I simply cannot provide any information to you today on this matter. I will seek any advice I can in this instance not only from the Minister for Foreign Affairs but also from the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts on the element in your supplementary question about the International Whaling Commission. For the reasons I have outlined before, I think it is unlikely there has been a breach but, if I can provide information to the senator, I certainly will.