Peter Whish-Wilson (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, Senator Cash. Last summer in the Southern Ocean, in Australian territorial waters, documented evidence shows the Japanese whaling fleet harpooned a mother whale and her calf. It took 30 minutes for both whales to die. They drowned in their own blood. I highlight this happened in our waters and on our watch. We have a purpose-built Southern Ocean patrol vessel, the ACV Ocean Protector. The Ocean Protector is currently acting as the world's most expensive water taxi off the coast of Christmas Island as part of Operation Sovereign Borders. Sea Shepherd is about to leave Hobart to do the government's job. When will the government send the ACV Ocean Protector to the Southern Ocean to stop the blood in the water this summer?