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February 07, 2008 05:12pm
THE Federal Opposition today called on the government to press for the creation of a global whale sanctuary to ensure the giant mammals are never slaughtered again.
Opposition environment spokesman Greg Hunt said the release of video footage showing a mother whale and calf being dragged onto a Japanese whaling ship would be useful evidence in the Humane Society court case.
But he said more needed to be done.
"In 1980 the Fraser government banned commercial whaling in Australia," he said.
"In 2000 the Howard government created the Australian whale sanctuary. Now it is time for Australia to propose and support a global whale sanctuary in the International Whaling Commission.
"Australia should propose and support a global whale sanctuary to end the slaughter in all the world for all time."
Mr Hunt said the opposition offered its full support for a total global ban on commercial and scientific whaling.
He said the battle against whaling would be won either through the International Whaling Commission or through convincing the Japanese people and then the Japanese prime minister that this practice has passed its use-by date.
Mr Hunt said the relationship with Japan would survive such a move.
"Australia and Japan will survive no matter what. It's a strong relationship. It's a deep relationship," he said.
"We never flinched and we don't think that the current government should flinch."
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,23175206-5001028,00.html
THE Federal Opposition today called on the government to press for the creation of a global whale sanctuary to ensure the giant mammals are never slaughtered again.
Opposition environment spokesman Greg Hunt said the release of video footage showing a mother whale and calf being dragged onto a Japanese whaling ship would be useful evidence in the Humane Society court case.
But he said more needed to be done.
"In 1980 the Fraser government banned commercial whaling in Australia," he said.
"In 2000 the Howard government created the Australian whale sanctuary. Now it is time for Australia to propose and support a global whale sanctuary in the International Whaling Commission.
"Australia should propose and support a global whale sanctuary to end the slaughter in all the world for all time."
Mr Hunt said the opposition offered its full support for a total global ban on commercial and scientific whaling.
He said the battle against whaling would be won either through the International Whaling Commission or through convincing the Japanese people and then the Japanese prime minister that this practice has passed its use-by date.
Mr Hunt said the relationship with Japan would survive such a move.
"Australia and Japan will survive no matter what. It's a strong relationship. It's a deep relationship," he said.
"We never flinched and we don't think that the current government should flinch."
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,23175206-5001028,00.html
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