THE HON TONY BURKE MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND WATER
SHADOW MINISTER FOR CITIZENSHIP AND MULTICULTURAL AUSTRALIA
SHADOW MINISTER FOR THE ARTS
MANAGER OF OPPOSITION BUSINESS
MEMBER FOR WATSON
THE HON MARK DREYFUS
SHADOW ATTORNEY-GENERAL
SHADOW MINISTER FOR NATIONAL SECURITY
ACTING SHADOW MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS
MEMBER FOR ISAACS
GOVERNMENT MUST DO MORE ON WHALING
The Turnbull Government must show it is serious about stopping Japan's proposal to lift the global moratorium on commercial whaling by sending a senior Minister to the International Whaling Commission (IWC) to tackle the issue head on.
Labor is deeply concerned by the proposal Japan is taking to the IWC meeting in September to restart commercial whaling.
The moratorium on commercial whaling was one of the great environmental reforms of the last century. Any steps to promote commercial whaling, whether this is through revised voting regimes or the establishment of catch-limits, must be resisted.
This proposal is in addition to Japan's ongoing so-called scientific whaling with over 660 whales slaughtered in the Southern Ocean over the past two years.
Labor took Japan to the International Court of Justice to stop so-called scientific whaling and won. The fact this decision is being ignored is deeply disappointing.
Labor welcomes today's affirmation from the Government of Australia's strong support for the 30-year global moratorium on commercial whaling, and the Foreign Ministers pledge to vehemently oppose any attempts to undermine the processes that support it.
But words are not enough. The Government now needs to take real action. Josh Frydenberg needs to step up, give Australia ministerial representation at the International Whaling Commission (IWC) and make clear that Australia is serious about stopping whaling in the Southern Ocean.
THURSDAY, 2 AUGUST 2018
