Scott Ryan (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Cabinet Secretary) Share this | Hansard source

The Australian government is very disappointed by Japan's decision to resume whaling in the Southern Ocean. We remain opposed to all forms of commercial whaling and strongly support the global moratorium on commercial whaling. All information necessary for the conservation and management of whales can be obtained using non-lethal methods. The Australian government welcomed the decision of the International Court of Justice in March 2014 that found Japan's whaling program in the Southern Ocean was not for the purposes of scientific research and ordered that program to cease. The Prime Minister, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Minister for the Environment continue to make high-level representations to the government of Japan expressing Australia's deep disappointment with the Japanese decision to recommence its unnecessary whaling program. The government is considering all options in response to the Japanese decision, including monitoring.

Question agreed to.