George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you for that question, Senator Whish-Wilson. I am aware that on 16 June Japan passed a new domestic law affirming the Japanese government's responsibility to support special permit or scientific research and ensure public funding for whaling research. That legislation makes it likely that scientific whaling is for the purpose of obtaining knowledge to implement commercial whaling. The new law also included measures to improve security provided by the Japanese fisheries agency to the Southern Ocean whaling fleet during the whaling season in response to anti-whaling activities of activists, in particular Sea Shepherd. I am aware also, Senator Whish-Wilson, of your observations that Japanese whaling is an assault on Australia's interests, our marine life, our territorial interests and our pursuit of a rules based global order.

The government is concerned about the recent passage of that legislation in support of so-called scientific whaling. The Australian government does not consider that Japan's whaling program is for the purposes of scientific research nor is it convinced that the program is consistent with the principles of the International Court of Justice's 2014 decision or of the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling. The Australian government will continue its efforts in the International Whaling Commission to promote whale conservation and uphold the general global moratorium on commercial whaling.