2016-12-23
Greens spokesperson for Whaling, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson says that the Australian Government's failure to keep their promise to monitor Japanese whaling activity in the Southern Ocean means a slaughter in the Southern Ocean is immenent this Christmas.
Senator Whish-Wilson said, “The Liberal Government is showing a perverse lack of will in failing to send a patrol boat and protect Australian waters from whaling.
"While I applaud the work Sea Shepherd are doing locating the Japanese whaling fleet deep inside the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary, it is appalling that theyare having to do the Australian Government's work for them.
"The Liberal Government continues their now three-year trend of turning a blind eye.to this unfolding tragedy, even though they repeatedly made election committments to sending a patrol boat in 2013 and 2016
“While Australians get ready to celebrate Christmas with family and friends, we won't know if our protected whales are being slaughtered on our doorstep.
Senator Whish-Wilsoon reacted to Sea Shepherd reports today that the Ocean Warrior vessel has intercepted one of the harpoon kill ships deep inside the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary, and they are now on the hunt for the centre piece of the illegal Japanese whaling fleet, the floating slaughterhouse known as the Nisshin Maru.
The weather has been very foggy and whaling conditions have been poor, which is a great sign for the whales.
Senator Whish-Wilson observed, "The whales are getting more protection from the weather than from the Australian Government.
“When Japan was last slaughtering whales Greg Hunt said ‘We’ve got blood in the water and a blind eye in Canberra, it’s completely unacceptable. These are Australian waters that should be protected. Whaling should never be occurring but for it to occur in Australian waters is an utter failure in Canberra’.
“This needless slaughter is about to happen again. There will be blood in the water and no plan by the Liberals to address the issue.
"Australia’s weak-willed response is sending the signal that the Australian government won’t provide any obstacles to this barbaric and illegal practice.
"I call on current Environment Minister Josh Frydenberg to take urgent action to address this issue, to show Australians that the Government has a spine, and to show Japan that Australia will not tollerate their illegal activities", he concluded.
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Media contact: Tim Walker - 0429 137 084
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