Media Release
Mark Butler MP
Shadow Minister for Environment
Climate Change and Water
Labor
has welcomed the historic decision of the International Court of
Justice in the case Australia took against Japanese whaling.
Australia commenced its case in the International Court of Justice in 2010 with strong support from all political parties.
This
decision means a program under which thousands of whales have been
killed by Japan in the Southern Ocean has at last been brought to an
end.
Labor’s views on whaling are well known – we are opposed to all commercial whaling.
In
particular, Australia argued against the continuation of whaling by
Japan because Japan chose to sign the moratorium on commercial whaling
under the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling.
The
decision of the Court vindicates Australia’s arguments that Japan’s
whaling programs in the Southern Ocean are in fact the continuation of
Japan’s commercial whaling programs, dressed in the lab coat of science,
and are therefore contrary to Japan’s international legal obligations.
During
the case Australia presented strong evidence that Japan’s whaling is
not scientific and is in breach of the ban on commercial whaling under
the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling.
Labor
is concerned not only about the environmental impacts of whaling, but
in launching Australia’s case we were seeking to hold Japan to its
international legal commitments.
The Court has now upheld our arguments, and the international rule of law will be stronger for the action we have taken.
As
responsible nations, both committed to the rule of law, Australia and
Japan have both confirmed that they will abide by the Court’s decision.
The Government should now take up discussions with Japan to cooperate on genuine and non-lethal methods of whaling research.
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