Attorney-General Nicola Roxon says Australian taxpayers are likely to 'foot the bill' for the rescue operation of three anti-whaling activists set to be released by Japanese whalers.
After the Japanese government agreed to release the men to Australian authorities, Ms Roxon said an Australian customs vessel was diverted from patrols for illegal fishing to go and collect them.
The customs vessel, the Ocean Protector, turned around to meet the Japanese whaling vessel the men were being held on, which Ms Roxon said had been "in lock-step" with the Sea Shepherd anti-whaling ship the Steve Irwin and heading towards the Southern Ocean.
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She said it would take several days for the boats to meet but could not be any more specific as to the timing, adding that for operational reasons the government would not be disclosing details of the planned rendezvous point.
Ms Roxon said the activists - West Australians Geoffrey Tuxworth, 47, Simon Peterffy, 44, and Glen Pendlebury, 27 - were well.
"We've made consular contact with them late last night," Ms Roxon told reporters in Melbourne on Tuesday.
"We're able to confirm that they are all in good health and well and being treated appropriately."
She did not have any information on whether the men had commenced a hunger strike during their detention.
COSTLY OPERATION
The rescue operation is likely to cost Australian taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars and Ms Roxon said she would like the activists and the Sea Shepherd anti-whaling group to consider what contribution they would make.
"I must say I'm not going to be holding my breath. The truth is the Australian taxpayer will foot the bill for this sort of action," Ms Roxon said.
"And whilst many millions of Australians would like to see whaling stop, many of them may also resent the cost that they are contributing for this handover and rescue, if you like, of Australian protesters."
Ms Roxon said Australia's strong relations with Japan had assisted constructive negotiations to release the men but said further similar incidents could test the relationship and warned Australian activists not to take the law into their own hands.
'LUCKY ESCAPE'
A body representing Japanese whalers says The three protesters have had a lucky escape
The men had risked being taken to Japan and being charged with trespass after boarding the Shonan Maru 2 off the coast of Bunbury on Saturday night.
"These three guys can thank their lucky stars," Institute of Cetacean Research spokesman Glenn Inwood told AAP on Tuesday.
"They did risk being taken back to Japan and charged. For them, it's been a lucky escape.
"If Japan had issues with these three men they would have taken them back, but I think this has been a satisfactory outcome."
Mr Inwood said the ball was always in the Australian government's court to collect the trio.
He also said he believed the bill for the exercise should be paid by the men, rather than the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, which helped them get on board.
"I think the cost should fall squarely on these three men to pay for that. If not it should fall on Sea Shepherd," Mr Inwood said.
After boarding the Shonan Maru 2, the Australians had demanded to be taken back to shore in an attempt to disrupt the security ship's trailing of the Sea Shepherd anti-whaling ship the Steve Irwin.
Sea Shepherd captain Paul Watson said on Tuesday he did not know when the handover of the protesters would take place.
"All I know is the Shonan Maru 2 is 15 miles behind us and pursuing us south and we are 350 miles south of Australia right now," he told Sky News.
Capt Watson said it was inevitable there would be further clashes between anti-whaling protesters and the Japanese fleet despite Prime Minister Julia Gillard's view that such activities were unacceptable.
"Maybe if she made good on the pre-election promises of her government (to get tough on whaling) this wouldn't happen again," he said.
"But there will be confrontations in the Southern Ocean as long as Japanese illegal activity continues. They're targeting endangered whales."
