Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Vice-President of the Executive Council) Share this | Hansard source

Firstly, let me say that Senator Anne Ruston will do an outstanding job representing Australia at that very important forum. I would also point out to Senator Whish-Wilson, which he should have reflected on before drafting this slur, that the parliament is actually sitting. The House of Representatives, which, of course, is where the Minister for the Environment is a member, is sitting. She is required in question time because she takes her responsibilities to the parliament very seriously indeed.

Australia opposes Japan's push to resume commercial whaling. We support the global moratorium on commercial whaling and we will oppose any efforts to overturn it. We will oppose any proposals to weaken the rules for commercial whaling, voting regimes or catch limits for commercial whaling. Assistant Minister Ruston will deliver an opening statement on behalf of the government at the International Whaling Commission meeting in Brazil this weekend, on 15 and 16 September, outlining our resolute support for the global moratorium and our opposition to any efforts to overturn it. We maintain our strong stance against commercial and so-called scientific whaling. You do not need to kill a whale to study it.

Let me finish where I started. Senator Anne Ruston will do an outstanding job representing Australia at this International Whaling Commission meeting. I think Senator Whish-Wilson should reflect on the statements that are made about the contribution of our outstanding women in this parliament and the way he explained the question.