Govt slams whaling spy flights by Japan

6 Jan 2010, 5:24 pm   -   Source: AAP
Share This

Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard has criticised the Japanese government for hiring Australian aircraft to track the activities of anti-whaling protesters.

Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard has criticised the Japanese government for hiring Australian aircraft to track the activities of anti-whaling protesters.

Light planes have flown from Western Australia and Tasmania to locate Sea Shepherd protest vessels on the high seas.

The Greens and the federal opposition have slammed the government for allowing the Japanese to spy on anti-whaling protesters using Australian planes and airports.

Ms Gillard spoke strongly against the flights.

"We do not condone this action by the Japanese Government at all," Ms Gillard told reporters in Hobart on Wednesday.

"We're urgently seeking legal advice about this matter."

Ms Gillard said the legal advice would indicate what Australia's options were.

Before winning the last federal election, Labor promised to take international legal action to stop Japanese whaling.

Since winning the election no legal action has been taken.

Ms Gillard reiterated the government's line that it is trying the diplomatic route but court action is still possible.

The whaling issue escalated on Wednesday with the news an anti-whaling vessel, the Ady Gill, had been holed and abandoned after a collision with a Japanese vessel in Antarctic waters.

The Australian Greens say they will introduce legislation in February to stop Japanese whalers being allowed access to Australian services such as surveillance craft.

The ban would include air and sea surveillance and communications facilities, Greens Leader Bob Brown said.

The Greens hope the bill will receive support from both major parties.

"And I think that tripartisan support may well emerge," he said.

Earlier, Senator Brown told ABC television Prime Minister Kevin Rudd should use legal action as part of diplomatic efforts with the Japanese to stop whaling.

"Why doesn't he take the legal action as part of the diplomacy," he said.

Captain of the Steve Irwin, Paul Watson, says the government should stop the whalers spying on anti-whaling vessels.

"They're in contempt of an Australian court order. The surveillance flights should be stopped," he told ABC radio on Wednesday morning.

Meanwhile, American celebrity Bob Barker has helped the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society buy and fit out another boat for its Japanese fleet.

Mr Barker donated $US5 million ($A5.48 million) to purchase "the Bob Barker", a Norwegian whaling ship.

The money will also go towards the purchase of a helicopter which will accompany the fleet.

  • Follow us: 
  • Follow us on Facebook
  • Follow us on Twitter
  • Follow us on Youtube