Attorney-General
Minister for Emergency Management
Special Minister of State
Minister for the Public Service and Integrity
The Hon Mark Dreyfus QC MP
Minister for Climate Change
Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Water
The Hon Mark Butler MP
Minister for Foreign Affairs
Senator The Hon Bob Carr
Joint Media Release
Hearings conclude in Australia's whaling case against Japan at International Court of Justice
The oral arguments in Australia's whaling case against Japan will conclude this evening after three weeks of public hearings in the International Court of Justice in The Hague.
"Now that the oral hearings are over we are one step closer to the Court's decision which could lead to the end of Japan's program of so-called 'scientific' whaling in the Southern Ocean," said Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus QC who last week joined the legal team representing Australia in the Court.
"Australia's views on whaling are well known - we condemn all commercial whaling, including Japan's program," said Minister for Environment Mark Butler.
"Australia has presented strong evidence that Japan's whaling is not scientific and is in breach of the ban on commercial whaling under the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling."
"Resolution of the dispute by the Court will further enhance already strong ties between our countries," said Minister for Foreign Affairs Bob Carr.
Australia commenced its case in the International Court of Justice in 2010 and the oral hearings are the last phase of legal proceedings before the Court makes its decision.
"The timing of that decision is in the Court's hands but we are hopeful it will deliver its decision before the start of the next whaling season," said Mr Dreyfus.
"As good international citizens, Australia and Japan have both confirmed that they will abide by the Court's decision."
TUESDAY, 16 JULY 2013
