TERRI BUTLER MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND WATER
MEMBER FOR GRIFFITH
MARK DREYFUS
SHADOW ATTORNEY-GENERAL
SHADOW MINISTER FOR CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM
MEMBER FOR ISAACS
LABOR CONDEMNS JAPAN'S COMMERCIAL WHALING
Labor condemns the Japanese Governments decision to recommence the slaughter of whales following its withdrawal from the International Whaling Commission (IWC).
Labor took Japan to the International Court of Justice in 2013 to stop so-called scientific whaling and won. The moratorium on commercial whaling was one of the great environmental reforms of the last century.
The Liberal Government failed to take seriously Japans moves to re-commence whaling by sending only a junior minister to the International Whaling Commission (IWC) instead of the Minister for the Environment.
While Labor is pleased that our campaign to end so-called scientific whaling in the Southern Ocean has been successful, we reject outright Japans decision to recommence commercial whaling in its own waters.
We urge Japan to return to the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling and the International Whaling Commission.
Labor was successful in leading the fight to protect whales, and we call on the Morrison Government to ensure that Australia continues the fight to end all forms of whaling.
TUESDAY, 02 JULY 2019
