Tell Japan to stop wasting police time: Brown

An official complaint should be sent to Japan over its misuse of Australian police resources following another raid on the Sea Shepherd ships in Hobart today, Greens Leader Bob Brown said.

“This morning in Hobart we’ve seen the third consecutive Australian Federal Police raid on Sea Shepherd vessels following Sea Shepherd’s successful campaign against illegal whaling in the Southern Ocean.

“Leaked US embassy cables and Freedom of Information requests have demonstrated that Australian officials are being constantly harassed by the Japanese Government despite past investigations showing no legal basis for the complaints.

“Enough is enough. The Australian government should lodge an official complaint with Japan for wasting the time of our diplomats and police and I have written to the Foreign Minister, Kevin Rudd, urging him to do so.

“Sea Shepherd has had its most successful campaign to date, with Captain Paul Watson estimating that at least 800 whales were saved from slaughter because improved capability of the Sea Shepherd vessels allowed them to stay with the Japanese whaling fleet for the season.

“My congratulations go to the captains and crews of the Steve Irwin, Bob Barker and Gojira,” Senator Brown said.

Earlier, the welcome to Hobart: HERE