(JP): Future Australian govt may use military to track Japanese whalers

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Future Australian govt may use military to track Japanese whalers

 

*Thu Nov 15, 2:47 AM ET*

 

SYDNEY (AFP) - Australia's military could be used to track Japanese whaling

vessels if the opposition wins next week's election as polls predict, a top

opposition figure said Thursday.

 

A Labor government would take advice from defence officials on the best way

to monitor Japanese whaling vessels carrying out 'scientific whaling' in

Australian waters, foreign affairs spokesman Robert McClelland said.

 

" We are going to use, if appropriate, military resources to monitor the

activities of the whaling vessels, " McClelland told reporters.

 

" Currently there is no monitoring. We are dependent upon the reports that

they provide, from their self-interest point of view.

 

" It's a live issue out there and that has to be communicated to the Japanese

representatives.

 

" That is going to be a really strong point of emphasis for a future Labor

government. "

 

Aircraft from customs' Coastwatch service could also be used, McClelland

said.

 

" What is important is getting evidence, getting information, getting the

facts, " he added.

 

This month Japan's whaling fleet is to leave for the Southern Ocean to kill

1,000 whiles, including for the first time 50 humpback whales.

 

So-called scientific whaling exploits a research loophole to evade an

international moratorium on commercial whaling in place for 20 years, but

makes no secret that the meat eventually ends up on Japanese dinner plates.

 

Japan has asked for protection for its whaling vessels from the activities

of anti-whaling protesters, but McClelland said a Labor government would

have little sympathy for such requests.

 

Labor has a strong lead in opinion polls, which predict a landslide loss for

Prime Minister John Howard after more than 11 years in office.

 

McClelland is widely expected to serve as foreign minister if the

centre-left party wins power.

 

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