[MARINE_BIOLOGY_INTERNATIONAL] Aussie Greens demand action on whaling

 

(Sydney Morning Herald)

Govt under pressure on whale hunt
January 3, 2011 - 2:59PM
AAP

The federal government is under pressure from the coalition and Australian Greens to stop Japan's whale hunt in the Southern Ocean.

Both the opposition and the Greens also want the government to take a watchdog role following clashes between anti-whaling protesters and the Japanese whaling fleet at the weekend.

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott is adamant the government should make Australia's position "crystal clear".

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"That is that we don't like whaling and we think Japan should cease and desist immediately," he told reporters in the flood-ravaged town of Emerald in central Queensland on Monday.

"We should continue all reasonable efforts to do what we can to stop the hunt."

Earlier, the opposition's environment spokesman Greg Hunt urged the government to adopt an independent monitoring role of the annual whale hunt.

"It is incumbent upon the government to take practical steps to ensure that there is an independent monitoring and an independent search-and-rescue capability," he said.

Mr Hunt said he had written to Environment Minister Tony Burke urging the government to take a watchdog role.

Greens leader Bob Brown reiterated his party's call for naval or aerial surveillance of the whaling slaughter, with filmed evidence released to the world's media to shame the Japanese fleet.

"Surveillance by Australia could also prevent human lives being lost during the whale-killing season," he told reporters in Hobart.

At the weekend two Sea Shepherd vessels were involved in a confrontation with the Japanese whaling fleet, with protesters being hosed with high-pressure water cannon as they harassed the whalers.

The Greens flagged introducing legislation that aimed to prohibit whaling in Australia's Antarctic waters.

The minor party also wants the government to seek an injunction in the International Court of Justice against this year's whaling hunt.

Australia already has started an action against Japanese "scientific whaling", but it could take another two years before the court makes a determination.

The Greens want the coalition and independents to support legislation that would make Japanese whaling more difficult.

"We will look at legal options for other legislation, such as prohibiting whaling in Australian Antarctic waters altogether," Senator Brown said.

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