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

Senators, can I have your attention for one second. Who in this chamber honestly, genuinely wants to sea whales slaughtered this summer in the Southern Ocean? Who wants to see the Japanese whaling fleet slaughter whales in the Southern Ocean? I think I can say that unanimously none of us do, and most of the Australian people don't want to see it either. For nine whaling campaigns, this boat, the MY Steve Irwin, has gone down to the Southern Ocean and put the Sea Shepherd crew between the Japanese whaling fleet and Australian whales. All this motion asks is that this be recognised. The boat is about to be decommissioned and, in recognition of the service of the MY Steve Irwin and all the great work the crew has done over the years including taking on unregulated and illegal fishing very successfully. May I say that we call on the Australian government to uphold their election commitment and send a Customs vessel to the Southern Ocean this summer to twin the Japanese sailing fleet and let them know there are eyes on the water.