The verdict tonight from the International Court of Justice in The Hague on ‘Whaling in the Antarctic’ (Australia v. Japan) will be a defining moment in global whaling policy. The Greens spokesperson on Whaling, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson provides the following comments in the lead up to the verdict.
“I hope that this summer just gone will be the last whaling season ever in the Southern Ocean.
“There is no reason why whaling, either commercial or so-called scientific whaling, should occur.
“I hope that there is a decisive finding handed down in Australia’s favour tonight. I hope that the International Court of Justice will find that the whaling can no longer continue. I hope that Japan pledges to abide by this decision.
“However, there is a chance that on technical grounds, Australia may not get a strong finding in its favour. This is why the Australian government needs to be ready to think on its feet and to engage in more diplomacy with the Japanese government.
“If this case does not deliver a positive result, Australians expect their government to use all diplomatic, political and legal options available to it to end whaling in our waters.
“When Tony Abbott heads to Japan on a trade mission on the 7th of April, he needs to put ending whaling on the top of his agenda,” Senator Whish-Wilson concluded.
The Greens spokesperson on Whaling, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson
