MEDIA RELEASE: AUSTRALIA MUST ALWAYS FIGHT COMMERCIAL WHALING

TONY BURKE MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND WATER
SHADOW MINISTER FOR CITIZENSHIP AND MULTICULTURAL AUSTRALIA
SHADOW MINISTER FOR THE ARTS
MEMBER FOR WATSON
 
THE HON MARK DREYFUS QC MP
SHADOW ATTORNEY-GENERAL
SHADOW MINISTER FOR NATIONAL SECURITY
MEMBER FOR ISAACS
 
AUSTRALIA MUST ALWAYS FIGHT COMMERCIAL WHALING
 

The Abbott/Turnbull/Morrison Government have failed to act on fighting commercial whaling by sending a junior Minister to the International Whaling Commission (IWC).

Australia’s authority on this issue has always been shown by sending a senior Minister to the IWC. This is the only way Australia has ensured that a strong front is presented on this incredibly important issue of commercial whaling.

In August of this year, Labor sought assurances from the Government that they would send a senior Minister to the IWC to oppose moves by Japan to lift the global moratorium on commercial whaling.

The moratorium on commercial whaling is a critical piece of environmental reform. It needs to be upheld rather than undermined.

This meeting is critically important, thanks to Japan’s proposal to end a decades-old ban on commercial whaling.

Australia’s 2014 victory at the International Court of Justice, led by Labor, ensured that Japan’s “scientific” whaling program was exposed for what it was – a commercial operation. It now falls to the Abbott Turnbull Morrison Government to ensure Japan does not successfully overturn the ban on commercial whaling, and undermine that ruling even further.

The Minister for Environment not personally attending the International Whaling Commission in Brazil shows Australia is failing in our responsibility to protect whales and potentially allowing commercial whaling to be reintroduced without strong opposition.

Only a Shorten Labor Government will take a strong stance against commercial whaling.

WEDNESDAY, 12 SEPTEMBER 2018