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

I seek leave to amend general business motion No. 153 so that paragraph (b) reads 'calls upon the Government to honour their election and policy commitments to send a patrol vessel to the Southern Ocean over the coming summer to monitor whaling activities and to collect further evidence for additional international legal action' and, in paragraph (c), omitting 'the Japanese Government for'.

Leave granted.

I move the motion as amended:

Document was not available at the time of printing—

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

The PRESIDENT: Is leave granted? Leave is granted for one minute

We are deeply disappointed that Japan's whaling fleet has left port to continue its whaling program in the Southern Ocean at this summer. We have made clear representations urging Japan not to resume whaling, and will continue to do so. The government continues to review its position on possible options in response to Japan's decision to go whaling. Australia will continue working through the International Whaling Commission to bring about a permanent end to all forms of commercial and so-called scientific whaling. The science is clear. All information necessary for the management and conservation of whales can be obtained through nonlethal methods.

Question agreed to.