An anti-whaling group wants the navy called in to protect the Australian Whale Sanctuary in Antarctica.
A Japanese whaling fleet is on its way south and plans to harpoon more than 1000 whales within weeks.
The Humane Society International (HSI), which is pursing a legal case against a Japanese whaling company that has allegedly taken whales within the sanctuary, said the incoming Labor Government had gained power promising action against whaling.
"The ALP went to the electorate with a policy that they would enforce the Australian Whale Sanctuary," HSI director Michael Kennedy said in a statement.
"Right now a Japanese whaling company is on its way to the [sanctuary] planning to harpoon over 1000 whales within weeks, which means Mr Rudd must dispatch an Australian vessel immediately to enforce Australian law."
Mr Kennedy said the HSI had gone to the Federal Court seeking an injunction against the whaling company only because the previous government had failed to enforce the law.
"In contrast to the Howard government's opposition, the ALP has given our case their complete support," he said.
"However, now that the ALP is in government, they do not need to wait for a Federal Court injunction for the hunt to be stopped.
"They already have the power, the imprimatur of Parliament and the duty to act."
The Japanese fleet is targeting 50 humpback whales in addition to its permits to kill 935 minke whales and 50 fin whales.
"The majority of these whales will be killed within the Australian Whale Sanctuary contrary to the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999," Mr Kennedy said.
"We trust that now that the ALP has formed government, they will make good on their promise to stop the Japanese whaling vessels from contravening Australian law.
"The Government must take the action necessary to cause the Japanese whalers to pack up their harpoons and go home."
http://www.smh.com.au/news/whale-watch/send-navy-ship-to-antarctic-now-antiwhaling-group/2007/11/29/1196037052244.html
A Japanese whaling fleet is on its way south and plans to harpoon more than 1000 whales within weeks.
The Humane Society International (HSI), which is pursing a legal case against a Japanese whaling company that has allegedly taken whales within the sanctuary, said the incoming Labor Government had gained power promising action against whaling.
"The ALP went to the electorate with a policy that they would enforce the Australian Whale Sanctuary," HSI director Michael Kennedy said in a statement.
"Right now a Japanese whaling company is on its way to the [sanctuary] planning to harpoon over 1000 whales within weeks, which means Mr Rudd must dispatch an Australian vessel immediately to enforce Australian law."
Mr Kennedy said the HSI had gone to the Federal Court seeking an injunction against the whaling company only because the previous government had failed to enforce the law.
"In contrast to the Howard government's opposition, the ALP has given our case their complete support," he said.
"However, now that the ALP is in government, they do not need to wait for a Federal Court injunction for the hunt to be stopped.
"They already have the power, the imprimatur of Parliament and the duty to act."
The Japanese fleet is targeting 50 humpback whales in addition to its permits to kill 935 minke whales and 50 fin whales.
"The majority of these whales will be killed within the Australian Whale Sanctuary contrary to the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999," Mr Kennedy said.
"We trust that now that the ALP has formed government, they will make good on their promise to stop the Japanese whaling vessels from contravening Australian law.
"The Government must take the action necessary to cause the Japanese whalers to pack up their harpoons and go home."
http://www.smh.com.au/news/whale-watch/send-navy-ship-to-antarctic-now-antiwhaling-group/2007/11/29/1196037052244.html
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